62 RECOKD OF HORTICULTURE. 



thers is the pollen, wliieli is a small, brown, dust-like substance 

 that adheres to almost everything with which it comes in 

 contact. C, is the stigma, which is also suj^j^orted by an- 

 other long stem, called the style ; at the base of this is the 

 ovary, or seed vessel ; the three constitute the pistils. 

 There are other organs which are parts of the flower, but 

 it is chiefly with these named that we come in direct con- 

 tact in hybridizing and crossing. 



Now suppose we wish to produce a new variety, inter- 

 mediate between the white Japan Lily and the red, and 

 we select the white to produce the seed, or, to use a com- 

 mon term, for the parent. When the two varieties are in 

 bloom, §elect one or more flowers of the white to operate 

 U23on ; and wdien the flowers first open, cut away the anthers 

 from the stamens so that no pollen can reach the stigma, 

 unless applied artificially ; then go to one of the red Lilies 

 which is in full bloom, and cut ofl* its stamens, or a portion 

 of them, and place them on the stigma of the white flower, 

 the stamens of which have been removed. The pollen 

 will adhere to the stigma, as it is covered with a glutinous 

 substance, or will be after it has been exposed to the air 

 for a few hours. The substance of these grains of pollen 

 is absorbed by the pistils, and thus the seeds in the ovary 

 are fertilized. It is usually best to delay fertilizing the 

 stigma for a few hours after the anthers have been remov- 

 ed, so that it may be fully developed and in a proper con- 

 dition to receive the pollen. The flower, however, should 

 be covered with a netting, to prevent insects from fertiliz- 

 ing the pistil from other flowers, which they will often do 

 with pollen adhering to their legs, thus defeating our ob- 



