THE LARKSPUK 233 



The gilias vary greatly in color, so that they 

 are very interesting flowers with which to work, 

 and the colors may very readily be fixed in the 

 course of four or five generations. So also may 

 the qualities of compact growing, size of flower, 

 and the like. The plants, therefore, are encour- 

 aging ones for the amateur who is anxious to get 

 results. 



The familiar milkweeds have been referred 

 to in another connection with reference to the 

 peculiar arrangement of their pollen masses, 

 which are so adjusted as to entangle the feet 

 of bees. 



The amateur will find it peculiarly interesting 

 to cross-pollenize these flowers. It will be advan- 

 tageous to work with a magnifying lens of con- 

 siderable power. The curious form of the flower 

 and the unique arrangement of the pollen masses 

 give the work of cross-fertilizing these plants a 

 unique character, and these flowers are in general 

 among the most puzzling of all flowers for the 

 amateur. 



There is possibility of developing, among the 

 milkweeds, plants of commercial value. I have 

 cultivated a number of unclassified South Amer- 

 ican species. For two or three years the work 

 of selecting the best seedlings among a large 

 number was carried on, until several races among 



