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lings are the result of crossing without our aid. It is now well 

 known that all perfect flowers have what are termed male and 

 female organs. As these are found in the same flower, self- 

 fertilization is constantly taking place. But in crossing we 

 must prevent self-fertilization, by removing the male organs and 

 impregnating the germ by a flower of another variety. 



Now the flower of the grape is very minute ; so minute that 

 its several parts can hardly be seen without the aid of a micro- 

 scope of small power. As this subject is of so much impor- 

 tance and so exceedingly interesting, I here present magnified 

 views of the grape flower, so that the operation of crossing may 

 be clearly understood. 



In Fig. 56, 1 represents the flower-bud before it has expand- 

 ed, and just at the time when crossing must be attempted if we 

 would be successful. The calyx (A, 1), forming as it does a 

 sort of cap to the organs beneath, is being raised up by the 

 elongation of the stamens as seen fully expanded at B, 2, and 

 is just ready to be thrown off, leaving the pistil, which is the 

 large central organ, exposed. That part of the pistil resem- 

 bling a blunt perforated point, as seen at 2 or 3, is the stigma. 

 The fine, small organs projecting from every side of the pistil 

 are the stamens, and consist of the anthers (B) and the fila- 

 ments (D) by which they are supported. The anthers are filled 

 with an exceedingly fine powder called pollen, which is shaken 

 out by every movement of the wind, and carried by 

 insects from flower to flower. It finds its way to, 

 and lodges on, the stigma, which contains a viscid 

 substance, by which the pollen is made to adhere. 

 The pistil contains the rudimentary seeds, and. when 

 fertilized, enlarges and becomes the fruit. 



I do not propose to go at length into botany, but 

 suffice it to say, that, in the absence of pollen, no 

 such thing as fertilization could occur, and no fruit 

 could be formed. In a few days the entire flower 

 would drop off, " blight," as it is termed, and 

 the vine would be barren. The pistil is fertilized 

 by the pollen from the anthers (B) through the 

 stigma (3). Now if the anthers are removed as at 

 (D), no fruit would form for want of fertilization, 



