Gladiolus Studies — II 



235 



which will admit the sunlight and will also protect against contami 



nation by other pollen. 



The various methods of pollination are best 



tabulated for comparison. The significant points 



to be borne in mind are: (i) that the pollen is 



shed almost as soon as the flower opens, which 



is as soon as the sun is up; (2) that perhaps 



self-fertilization takes place much more readily 



than one thinks, since it is a rather easy matter 



for the pollen to reach the pistil either by the 



action of insects or by the wind. This makes 



emasculation in the case of the gladiolus more 



necessary than for some other flowers. 



The workers in the Bureau of Plant Industry- 



at Washington, D. C, according to Dr. C. E. 



Leighty, carry the pollen in a small vial, which 



is secured to the thtmib of the left hand by 



means of a rubber band, thus allowing fiill play 



to the fingers. In the right hand the worker 



carries either a pair of forceps with which to 



remove the stamens from the vial, or a small 



brush to be dipped in the pollen. 



Douglas (1885) dusts the seed-bearing parents 



about four times. "It is easy to do this," he 



wTites, " because at the time of setting the 



blossoms we go over the flowers twice a day. 



In the morning between nine and ten, and in the afternoon between 



two and three." 

 After pollina- 

 tion the bags 

 should again be 

 placed over the 

 blooms, in order 

 that foreign and 

 undesired pollen 

 may not come 

 into contact with 

 the stigma and be 



more congenial to 

 Fig. 32. CROssiXG technique ^1 ■ ^.. .-, , , 



. „■,• ^v,.ur,.,ru.u r ,-t, the pistil than the 



A small vial is secured to the thumb of the left hand by means of a rubber ^ 



band; the fingers are thus left free to hold the flower. With the right hand the pollen a P D 1 i C d 

 stamens are easily removed by the use of forceps, and dropped into the vial ^ ^ ^ 



previously. 

 It is always desirable to carefully label the crosses. This is best done 



CROSSING TECH- 

 NIQUE 



By reference to figure 14 one 

 may see that the stamens are 

 attached to the perianth tube. 

 Therefore, if the perianth is 

 removed, the stamens are re- 

 moved. This is a simple method 

 of emasculation 



