146 CALENDAR AND INDEX. 



Lindley recommends the operation of cross fertilization 

 to be performed early in the morning of a dry day ; about 

 sun-rise is a good time to begin, and before the blossom is 

 entirely expanded ; the pollen being at that time humid, is 

 closely attached to the anthers. The blossoms must be care- 

 fully opened and the anthers extracted by delicate scissors, 

 care being taken not to wound the filaments or any other 

 part of the flower. This being done, the matured pollen 

 from another variety must be carefully placed on the blossom 

 which it is intended to fertilize, and from which the anthers 

 have been extracted ; and this operation must be repeated 

 twice or three times in the course of the day. By shaking 

 the blossoms over a sheet of white paper, the time when it 

 is perfectly matured will be ascertained. It is necessary to 

 protect the prepared blossom from bees and other insects 

 with thin book-muslin, or gauze, till a swelling is perceived 

 in the germ. When the process has been successful, the 

 pollen which has been placed on the stigma becomes so 

 attached that it cannot be removed with a hair pencil ; it 

 changes form and colour, and soon disappears, and the blos- 

 som will soon wither and fade ; but when the process has 

 been imperfect, the pollen is easily detached from the stig- 

 ma, its appearance is unaltered, and it remains visible with 

 the duration of the flower, which will continue a long time. 



For further information on these subjects, see Outlines of 

 the First Principles of Horticulture, pages 120 to 140 of the 

 second part of this work. 



