Plant Breeding. 



265 



FIG. 173. Case of instruments and 

 sacks for crossing plants. 



the anthers (144) before the pollen is mature. Prior to 

 maturity, the anthers are generally pale in color and 

 nearly smooth on the surface, with no visible pollen, but 

 a little later, the pollen in most 

 plants is visible as a bright yel- 

 low dust adhering to 

 the anthers. The an- 

 thers may be picked 

 off with the forceps, 

 or the filaments that 

 support them may be 

 clipped off with the 

 points of the scissors. 

 They must generally be removed before the petals open 

 (143). The latter may be gently opened with the for- 

 ceps or needle, or they may be carefully removed. 



In the flowers of certain plants, as the pea, wheat and 



grape, pollination takes 

 place before the blossom 

 opens, hence in these 

 plants it is necessary to 

 emasculate the flowers 

 very early. 



442. To Prevent Unde- 

 sired Pollination, the 

 blossom should be in- 

 closed by tying over it a 

 sack of thin cloth or pa- 

 per at the time of re- 

 moving the anthers. The 

 sack will of course have 

 to be removed for polli- 

 nation, after which it should be promptly replaced. 



FIG. 174. Emasculated flower inclosed 

 in sack. 



1(5 



