CROSS-FERTILISATION 33 



crossed with Mrs. Openshaw. In light, purple-edged Pico- 

 tees, Lavinia with Somerhill. 



In heavy, rose-edged Picotees, Little Phil with Mrs. Bes- 

 wick ; and light, rose-edged Picotees, Fortrose with Ethel. 



It would be tedious to make selections in all the 

 classes of Carnations, including yellow-ground Picotees, 

 and it may be sufficient to insist on the importance of 

 selecting varieties with vigorous constitutions as seed- 

 bearers, but they must also possess other good qualities. 

 The pollen-parents should be such as are remarkable for 

 richness of colour and high quality in the flowers ; but, 

 at the same time, the more vigour that can be obtained 

 in the seed-bearers, the better. 



In the self colours, I always work on the system of 

 keeping each colour distinct, crossing, for example, scarlet 

 with scarlet, and yellow with yellow. 



When a flower has been pollinated, it will soon be 

 apparent if the pollen has taken effect, for the petals will 

 droop in twenty-four hours. If this does not happen, the 

 operation must be repeated until the flower collapses. As 

 soon as the petals decay, they should be pulled out, so 

 that the small capsule will be the better exposed to the 

 sun and air. The capsules will frequently damp off in a 

 cold, wet autumn. They can only be saved by keeping 

 the plants in a dry atmosphere, and as near as possible to 

 the glass roof of the greenhouse. The seed ripens about 

 the end of September or in October, and the capsules 

 may be gathered as soon as they develop a brownish 

 colour. The seed is usually black, but sometimes it is 

 merely of a cream colour. The seed-pods should be laid 

 out to dry in an airy room directly they are gathered, 



