40 THE WHEAT CTJLTURIST. 



sent the male portion of the wheat blossom; and e, e 

 show the appearance of the female part of the flower. 

 d represents the ovule, or unimpregnated seed, or part of 

 the growing plant which is destined to become a seed, 

 or the new grain. The pistils are always in the centre 

 of the flower, and are attached to, or surmounted on 

 the ovule, or ovary, to which they serve as ducts for the 

 pollen grain, when brought in contact with each other. 



It may be perceived by the illustration, that the 

 anthers, a, have their exit at the upper portion of the 

 glumes, so that the pollen may readily descend, by its 

 own gravity, directly upon the pistils: The pistils and 

 the pollen grain are covered with an exceedingly thin 

 coat of mucilaginous matter, which causes them to ad- 

 here, when they are brought in contact. 



The grand practical consideration which I have had 

 in view by recording these suggestions and facts, relative 

 to the stamens, pistils, and pollen of the wheat blossoms, 

 is to give practical farmers a fair idea of the process 

 of impregnation and hybridization. Yery few farmers 

 think of this fact. Thousands of practical men of fair 

 intelligence know nothing about the means by which 

 wheat mixes, and how varieties, when planted in a close 

 proximity, mix and soon run out. 



Hybridizing Wheat. 



I pen elaborate suggestions under this head for the 

 purpose of impressing upon the mind of every farmer 

 the eminent importance of striving to keep his varieties 

 of wheat from growing in close proximity, and conse- 

 quently from hybridizing ; and I could think of no more 

 effectual way to accomplish the desired end, than by 



