78 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



new variety, we obtain two, or even three, by easy selection, as 

 in the case of the black, and white, and common mercer pota- 

 toes, which, though differing in appearance, are nearly similar 

 in character, and all from one stock. 



MODES OF NATURAL FERTILIZATION. 

 Natural fertilization is effected in flowers containing both 

 the fertilizing and fertile organs by such an arrangement of 

 the parts as secures the deposition of the pollen or fructifying 

 powder shed by the former upon the latter, sometimes as it de- 

 scends, and at others as it ascends, and in some flowers it is 

 scattered upon them by an explosive force or bursting. In 

 monoecious and dioecious plants the pollen is shed usually in 

 great abundance by the fertilizer, and, floating in the air, or 

 borne by the wind, aided perhaps by magnetic or chemical at- 

 traction, finds its appropriate place. This may be seen at once 

 in any corn-lot when the ears are in full silk, the exposed end 

 of each fibre of which is then dusted with the powder from the 

 topgallant. Bees and other insects also carry the pollen upon 

 them from flower to flower as they seek their food, and thus 

 accomplish the same end. 



MODES OF ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZATION. 



Flowers of vegetables and of fruits are artificially fertilized 

 by precisely similar processes, which may be described as fol- 

 lows: 



In all perfect flowers that is, those in which the fertilizing 

 and the fertile organs reside in the same blossom watch care- 

 fully the time of the natural opening of the flower you wish to 

 fertilize, and just as, or before it fully opens, insert the points 

 of a very small pair of scissors, and clip off and carry away all 

 the stamens, leaving the pistils alone, entire, and uninjured. 

 When this is accomplished, take a newly-opened but full flow- 

 er of the kind with which you desire to fertilize ; cut off, if nec- 

 essary, all the petals or flower-leaves, and place it within the 

 blossom to be fertilized ; or, without removing its petals, place 

 it as a cap over the former in such a manner that its stamens 

 may surround, or at least be near to the pistil. 



