FLOWERS AND FRUITS 



157 



plant in which the stigma is mature (they are then some- 

 what sticky). Touch the stigma with the stamens, so 

 that some of the pollen grains adhere. Tie a label or 

 mark near the flower, that it may be recognised in future, 

 and make a note in your note-book of the circumstances 

 of the experiment. Repeat the operation with several 

 flowers. When the fruit is ripe, gather it, sow the seed, 

 and, later, plant out the young seedlings in the garden. 



FIG. 1 9. Bag for 

 pollination experi- 

 ments. (After 

 Bailey.) 



FlG. 20. Bag for 

 pollination experi- . 

 ments, tied over 

 flower. (After 



Bailey.) 



When the plants blossom examine their flowers, and 

 notice how they differ from each other and from the 

 parent plants. A similar series of experiments may be 

 carried out with such plants as coleus, balsam, tomato, 

 sweet peas, etc. 



When it is desired to effect cross-fertilisation with 

 great accuracy, precautions must be taken to prevent 

 access to the stigma of pollen from any other flower than 

 the one selected. Thus in the last experiment pollen 



