48 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



mutilation does no harm. The best way is to try a few 

 buds experimentally, and the easiest method of pro- 

 cedure is sure to suggest itself. When the anthers 

 have been removed the bud must be covered with 

 muslin, to prevent the access of insects with possibly 

 pre-potent pollen. No sewing is necessary. The best 

 way is to take a nearly square piece of muslin, gather 

 in one side and lap the edge over to make a kind of 

 extinguisher, tying the top once or twice round with 

 raffia. Carefully place this over the flower and tie in 

 round the bottom. Then when the stigmas are likely 

 to be ready (which may often be known by similar 

 flowers that have not been tied up), apply the pollen, tie 

 on a label, and replace the extinguisher. If the cross 

 is of scientific importance it may be well, in view of 

 unbelievers in the result, to keep the pollen-bearing 

 flower carefully covered with muslin. In Iris, with 

 ordinary care, results may be made absolutely reliable. 

 The flowers are dependent upon insects, and good 

 crosses might often be effected by conveying pollen on 

 the finger-nail, or by carrying the anther itself to the 

 stigma, and without taking precaution of any kind ; but 

 this would be unscientific, and results could not be 

 depended upon. The instruments really required for 

 general work in crossing are very few, and the amateur 

 may be helped by the information that the greater part 

 of all the plant crossing that is done, is done with very 

 simple means, the orthodox camel-hair brush being usually 

 dispensed with. It is so easy to carry the anther or 

 stamen itself between forceps, and this method is really 

 much more gentle than the use of a brush. I find in 

 my box a pair of fine-pointed scissors, a pair of small 

 forceps, labels of stiff paper l\ in. by ^ in., and a few 

 pins, which are useful in closing gaps which may be left 

 in putting on the muslin extinguisher. A notebook 

 must of course be used. To advise the use of brains is 



