IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS. 



263 



plant 1)11 1 in separate flowers — as, the corn and 

 cucumber ; while in still others they are pro- 

 duced on separate plants — as, the ash and box 

 elder. 



In case both stamens and pistils are borne on 

 the same flower, the anthers must be removed 



a b c 



FIG. 85. ORANGE BUD AND KLOSSOMS;. ,'i^<' 



a — Orange bud. b — Mature orange blossom. c — Aft emascUlated flower. 



before the pollen is shed, to prevent self-fertili- 

 zation. To be sure of this, they should be re- 

 moved before the bud is fully opened (Fig. 85, 

 a), and in certain cases — as, wheat, etc. — in 

 even an earlier stage, since pollination takes 

 place before the bud opens. 



Directions for cross-pollination: {a) The bud should be 

 carefully opened to expose the anthers (Fig. 85, ^), which 

 should be picked off (Fig. 85, c) with a pair of tweezers, or 

 cut off with a pair of tiny scissors. The best results will 

 be obtained by selecting two or three of the strongest 

 flowers of the cluster for emasculation, and removing 

 all others. 



{b) The flower cluster thus treated sliould be at once 

 enclosed in a paper bag, the open end of which should 

 have been sliglitly moistened by quickly dipping it in 



