Raising Carnations from Seed 



chosen. For instance, if there are two varieties, one of which possesses the 

 ideal habit and a tlower of the ideal size, form and shape, but lacking in 

 color, and the other variety, while deficient in some of the above character- 

 istics possesses the desired color, the flower of the variety having the wished- 

 for habit, form and size will be fertilized with pollen from the variety pos- 

 sessing the color wanted. The result may be that a variety will be produced 

 which not only combines the habit, size, form and freedom of bloom sought, 

 but the ideal color as well, and in many instances improvements in all those 

 points. 



The operator's tools are few, indeed. A pair of tweezers, a pocket micro- 

 scope, a few tight-stoppered glass phials in which to preserve pollen, and a 

 delicate camel's hair brush comprise the list, and frequently the latter is dis- 

 pensed with, the tweezers alone being relied upon to transfer the pollen 

 to the pistils. 



The operation of pollinating the flower is very simple. It consists of 

 applying the pollen, when it is in the right condition, to the stigma of the 

 flower desired to be pollinated, at the proper time. The only way to learn 

 at which time this should be done is by practical experiment. The pollen 

 is produced upon the anthers. As these anthers burst, the pollen is released 

 in the form of a dry powder, and when in this condition it should be applied. 

 While the pollen will stand for a considerable time and retain its vitality, the 

 best results are obtained if it is used as soon after ripening as possible. 

 Tiny, hair-like growths standing along the entire length of the upper surface 

 of the stigma will be noted. When these hair-like growths are well de- 

 veloped, and especially when they assume a transparent appearance and 

 seem to be covered with tiny dew drops, the stigma is ready for pollination. 

 The operation should be done just as soon as the stigma is in condition; 

 otherwise some foreign pollen may alight thereon and the flower be pollinated 

 before the pollen desired to be applied has had time to act. 



Fertilization takes place with the germination of the pollen, which sends 

 very minute root-like growths down and makes connection with the ovules. 

 As soon as these growths reach the ovules they commence to swell, the 

 petals of the flower wither, and the bloom closes up, or "goes to sleep," as 

 the florist expresses it, and fertilization is complete. In the illustration on 

 page 196, A shows the flower closing up immediately after fertilization ; B 

 the seed pod swelling after fertilization, and C the ripened pod. It takes 

 from six to eight, and sometimes ten weeks after the flower is fertilized be- 

 fore the seeds are ripened. This ripened condition will be indicated by the 



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