HYBRIDIZING 45 



formed petals, with perfect pistils and stamens visible. An 

 absolutely double flower would not possess these qualifications 

 and so would be incapable of producing seed. 



Single flowers will bear seed that will never produce more 

 than a semi-double variety. Since American growers have been 

 raising seedling Roses, rapid strides have been made in the ad- 

 vancement of a type or, rather, two distinct types of plants 

 suited to our requirements one for outdoors and another for 

 Winter forcing. 



It is best to plant the Roses intended for seed bearers away 

 from others and to select varieties differing in color and habit. 

 The pistils or female organs of one are to be fertilized by the 

 stamens or male organs of the other. A stamen with no anther 

 or pollen bearer is barren. A pistil is composed of the ovary 

 or embryo of the seed. Down in the center of the flower, and 

 rising from it, is a filament called the style (or center) and the 

 stigma or point to which the pollen is applied. This terminates 

 in a rather thickened point, and is pierced with an impercept- 

 ible opening through which the pollen is carried to the ovule, 

 which latter develops into a seed. 



Authorities differ as to which of the parents the seedlings 

 will most resemble and this question need not much concern the 

 amateur. It would require years of study to reduce this ques- 

 tion to a science, and personal experience will probably be the 

 best teacher. 



When the flower is fully open it must be fertilized with 

 another of a variety from which it is desired that the qualities 

 be largely perpetuated in the seedlings. The two flowers se- 

 lected should be in about the same stage of development. The 

 anthers may be pressed between the thumb and finger and, if the 

 yellow dust sticks to them, it is ripe and ready to use. It would 

 be best to carry a flower of the male parent to the seed bearer. 

 It may then be held over the latter flower and, by placing a 

 finger over the bottom flower and striking the pollen bearer 



