CHAPTER VI. 



HYBRIDIZING, SEED SAVING, WINTERING. 



HYBRIDIZING or cross-fertilization of Water Lily flowers and the raising 

 of such progeny is always a source of great pleasure, and all who grow 

 Water Lilies may partake of this diversion. The large list of Nymphaeas now 

 under cultivation embraces numerous varieties, surpassing original species, 

 due to the exercise of this art. Few good things are traceable to "luck" or 

 "chance" in either the animal or vegetable kingdom; to achieve anything 

 worthy of special merit, requires a practical knowledge of the different 

 species or varieties. 



With a special object in view, pick out the varieties for the separate parent 

 plants; having selected these among Nymphaeas, what is to be the seed bearing 

 plant must be closely watched, and the flower stripped of its stamens the 

 first day of opening, and a piece of fine gauze tied over the flower to exclude 

 any insect that might alight on it and thus deposit any foreign pollen. On the 

 second day, gather the pollen from the selected pollen-bearing plant, using for 

 the purpose a soft camel's hair pencil, and deposit the same on the stigmas of 

 the selected flower. This operation must be performed without wetting either 

 flower, and must necessarily be done on a fine day. The flower must be 

 re-covered with the gauze immediately after the operation, and remain covered 

 xmtil the flower dies off. Should there be a scarcity of pollen on the selected 

 plant or flower, repeat the operation on the next day. When the fertilized 

 flower dies off and shows unmistakable signs of having been impregnated, 

 secure seed pod in a muslin bag, wait until it ripens, and in due course of time 

 gather the seed and wash it, then either dry and store it away until it is time 

 to sow, or sow at once, as the necessities of the case may determine. 



SEED SAVING. 

 Nymphsea species and some crosses produce seed very freely. Some 

 species are only propagated by seed, but several varieties do not produce seed 



