SEED SAYING AXD HYBRIDISATION. 93 



blooms of good quality. Bat where exact an! distinct crosses are to be made, 

 the best method is to apply the miss of pollen-bearing anthers of the male 

 bloom directly to the stigma of the female, which in the Begonia consists of 

 three pairs of cork-screw-ship id processes. In order to accomplish this, 

 the male flower must, of course, either ba plucked, or the two plants brought 

 so close together that the blooms can bs brought into contact while still 

 attached; or we have often employed male blooms that have recently fallen 

 from the plants, when they will often be found to retain a considerable 

 amount of pollen. By this means the entirety of the stigma, or stigmas, 

 are thoroughly covered with pollen, an 1 all the cells of the pod are impregnated 

 and become filled with fertile seed. This operation should always (whenever 

 possible) be performed while the sun is shining, and in the middle of the day if 

 practicable, or at any rate between the limits of ten o'clock in the forenoon 

 and three or four o'clock p. m. We do not say that the pollen will not 

 "take" to a greater or less extent when actual sunshine is not present, for, 

 unlike some other plants, such as the Pelargonium ancl Petunia, not a pod 

 or seed of which will "set" upon a dull day, however carefully impregnated, 

 the Begonia is by no means shy of seeding, but the operation is much more 

 surely and effectually accomplished under the immediate supervision of "old 

 Sol," and we should further recommend any particularly choice crosses to be 

 made between the hours of ten and twelve a.m. 



It should, moreover, be borne in mind that the choicest and most highly 

 bred varieties are almost invariably shy of seeding, and must be operated on 

 under the most favorable conditions all round to ensure success; common 

 kinds produce seed abundantly with little or no trouble. It occasionally 

 happens that particular blooms are fit for fertilisation at. unpropitious times, 

 as regards the weather, etc. ; in such cases the best that is possible must be 

 done under the circumstances, remembering that a dry atmosphere, a 

 moderately dry condition of the soil in the pots, and if cold or damp 

 prevails, a gentle heat in the pipes will greatly conduce to success. Pollen 

 may even be kept a few days in extreme case^ placing it in a piece of clean 

 folded paper, but it is better used fresh whenever possible. 



MARKING THE CROSSES GATHERING THE SEEDS. 



THE operation performed, the different crosses may be distinguished by 

 means of short pieces of coloured cotton, silk, etc., tied round the footstalk 

 of the bloom, and the particulars entered in a note-book. The most favour- 

 able stage for the blooms to be operated upon is, in the case of the female or 

 seed-bearing flower, directly it is thoroughly expanded, say about the third 

 day after it first opens, and before it can have become inoculated by insects 

 or any flying pollen ; and in the case of the male flower as soon as the pollen 

 falls freely. Should bees or other insects prove troublesome, and likely to 

 disturb your arrangements, exclude them from the house by nailing fine wire 



