THE VARIOUS S>STEMS OF PROPAGATION 2- 



the bunch in which is intended to he the female or seed-bearinfi parent. Cut 

 away or thin down to, say, a couple of dozen flowers, then protect this bunch 

 against the attacks of insects, which may be accomplished by using a thin muslin 

 bag. It will be necessary to examine these flowers closely. Just before the cap 

 is ready to be thrown off, remove it with a pair of fine-pointed scissors and imme- 

 diately cut away the stamens. This is an operation requiring care and patience. 

 When the stamens are cut off, the pollen of the sort selected for the male parent 

 can be applied. Experimenters will have theii own preferences as to the choice 

 of a male parent. The pollen should be applied with a very small camel's hair 

 brush to the stigma of the prepared flower. As a precaution against any other 

 pollen coming in contact with the bunch under operation it would be well to 

 enclose the flowers operated upon in a loose muslin bag. This process will 

 probably have to be repeated several times, or until the entire bunch or all the 

 flowers have been fertilized. When the berries are set, remove the muslin bag. 



Hybridizers have their own pets to select from for the seed-bearing plant. 

 A fairly safe guide to follow, which holds good for all other kinds of reproduction, 

 is to select a plant of vigorous constitution for the seed bearer. An ideal seed 

 bearer would be a good Muscat-flavored Grape, with the constitution of Gros 

 Maroc or an Alicante. The hybridizer whc succeeds along these lines will leave 

 a name behind him. While advocating this operation, I realize that it is a slow 

 and uncertain one. Yet there is pleasure and excitement in watching the devel- 

 opment of a tiny seedling. We know we have succeeded in raising a seedling, 

 but what will it turn out to be.^ And it is the uncertainty in the raising of seed- 

 lings of flower or of fruit which stimulates our interest and excitement. 



Raising Grapes from seed is a somewhat tedious procefs, and for that 

 reason comparatively little hybridizing is being done It takes two to three 

 years from the time that the seed is sown until you may reap your reward or 

 giieve over your failuie if the plant does not fulfill your expectations. There 

 has been many a rejoicing over successful introductions, and also much disap- 

 pointment over plants that did not come up to the standard set. The thing 

 to do is to take the issues as they come, and to swallow the bitter witli the sweet, 

 although the bitter may be hard to digest at times. 



If you have decided to try youi luck in raising seedling Grapes it wcnild 

 be well to devote a small house to that purpose, for, if the seedlings are set out 

 in a border the second season, they make better headway and in fact cause less 

 trouble than if kept in pots. It is not advisable tc keep the Grape seed any 

 length of time before sewing, as it does not hold its germinating power as long as 

 manv other seeds do. But Giapes are readily raised from seed and do not take 

 very long to come up, especially where thev have bottom heat. The best time for 

 planting is near the end of January. Sow the seed thinly in a small flat or pan. 

 When the young plants have become large enough to handle transfer them to 

 small pots and keep them growing in a moist, even temperature. Repot them 

 during the season when necessary. It is poor policy to allow them to become pot- 

 bound. If everything goes well the first season they will probably fruit the third 

 season. If you give your seedlings the best of treatment and meet with fair 

 success the fruit will repay you for your labor by its quality and abundance. 



