SEED SELECTION 75 



of crossing, still, as a general rule, the character 

 of stalk and the habit of growth in the future 

 plant will be more like the female parent, while 

 the fruit of the plant will be more like the male 

 parent. 



It will not be found very difficult to artifi- 

 cially cross fertilize flowers of the cotton plants. 



Near sunset select a large, well-developed 

 flower bud that would be open the next morning, 

 and carefully remove the anthers from the 

 flower by means of a small pair of scissors or 

 a sharp, thin bladed knife, using care not 

 to bruise the pistil of the flower. As soon 

 as the anthers are removed tie a paper bag 

 over the mutilated flower to keep out insect 

 visitors. 



Next pick out a large, well developed bud 

 on the plant that is to furnish the pollen and 

 tie over the bud a paper bag to keep out 

 the insects. The following morning the pistil 

 will be fully developed and ready to receive 

 pollen. Pull the entire flower that is to furnish 

 the pollen and rub its anthers lightly over the 

 stigma of the flower from which the anthers 

 were removed. Again place the paper bag 

 over the cross pollenated flower and leave 



