HYBRIDISING NEW VARIETIES 43 



to flower it would of necessity carry the pollen from one 

 flower to the stigmas of another. 



If one examines a flower under a microscope they will 

 readily understand the construction of the principal parts, 

 and this will largely assist in the experiment of fertilis- 

 ation. Having selected two blooms it is decided to cross, 

 one as the pollen bearer, the other as the seed parent, 

 with a small pair of scissors clip off all the petals of the 

 latter flower to just above their stigmas, and leaving the 

 outside row, or ray petals, intact. This will make it 

 easier for crossing. Obtain a small camel-hair brush, 

 and about noon on a fine warm day proceed to take some 

 pollen from the disc of one flower, and apply it to the 

 stigmas on the disc of another with the brush. Proceed 

 with this for two or three successive days until it is 

 considered that a cross has been effected. 



Another plan is to remove all the petals of the pollen- 

 bearing flower, sever it from the plant, and shake or 

 draw it gently over the stigmas of the seed flower, until 

 all the pollen has been scattered. A good plan to tell 

 when the stigmas of a flower are ready for fertilising is 

 by observing the anthers on the centre of the disc. 

 When they are throwing pollen, then the stigmas on the 

 outside edge next to the ray florets will be in a fit con- 

 dition for receiving the same from another flower. 



It has been proved by repeated experiments that the 

 seed from florets on the outside edge of disc always 

 give the best percentage of double flowers, the nearer 

 florets to the centre giving greater quantities of singles. 

 This should always be borne in mind where one's ambi- 

 tion is to raise a first-class flower. 



The next process, and perhaps the most difficult, is the 

 ripening of the seed. The house should be kept at a 

 night temperature of about 50, with the atmosphere as 

 dry as possible both night and day. Give the plants as 

 little water as possible. Some add a little weak stimu- 



