BREEDING 19 



The pistil is the small, cylindrical form in the center of the 

 anthers. Within a week's time the blooms will have either 

 swollen or dropped, thus determining the success or failure 

 of this method of pollination. 



Another method of hand pollination is: After the 

 selection of the mother plant, the corolla, or inner petals, 

 and the stamens are cut away before fully developed and 

 then the blossoms are bagged. At the proper time for pol- 

 lination, the pollen is collected from the male plant with a 

 fine camel's hair brush and is then dusted on the mother 

 plant. This is repeated for two successive days; that is, 

 if the pistil has not fallen. When the fruit has begun to 

 form, the paper bags are removed to allow free access to 

 the air and light. When the seed balls are ripe, they are 

 gathered and allowed to dry. They are then squeezed out, 

 as they are liable to decay if left in the fruit. 



Still there is another method, one which the Japa- 

 nese are said to use, and is very simple. The flower of the 

 male plant, when in proper condition to pollinate, is dusted 

 by hand onto the mother plant. The plant is then covered 

 to keep stray pollen off the pollinated flowers. 



Another method, one which I have found best in my 

 experience, one which is nearest nature's way, therefore 

 we would conclude it to be best. I do not cut the flowers in 

 any way, but when the flowers are to be pollinated, I limit 

 the blooms to two bunches, and, with the use of a fine cam- 

 el's hair brush, lightly dust on the pollen of the male to the 

 mother plant. These always being desirable crosses. Be- 

 fore this, however, when the mother plant is beginning to 

 bloom, I cover it with a cheese cloth. A frame can be eas- 

 ily made by pushing laths or sticks into the ground around 

 the vine to keep the cheese cloth from touching it. Thus 

 by the use of the cheese cloth the blooms have free access 



