46 COMMERCIAL ROSE CULTURE 



gently on it, the pollen will be shaken off and the work done. 

 Or the pollen may be collected on a camel's hair or very fine 

 brush, and thus conveyed from the anthers of one flower to the 

 style of the other. 



The flower should then be protected so that neither the 

 wind nor insects are able to carry other pollen or interfere in 

 any way with the work done. When the flower has passed away, 

 if the cross has been successful the seed pod will soon swell. 

 If any decayed petals adhere to it they should be removed and 

 the pods should be left on the bushes until fully ripe. Protect 

 from birds or anything that might damage them, if outdoors. 



The same operations, just described, may be carried on in 

 an airy greenhouse, the plants to be grown in pots, as well as 

 outdoors, with the advantage of a longer ripening season. 



John Cook tells us that 50 per cent, of the seeds will not 

 germinate, 25 per cent, will come single and out of the re- 

 maining 25 per cent, may be obtained two or three varieties 

 worth growing on. 



Care must be taken, when syringing, about the time of fer- 

 tilization, that no water gets into the flowers. 



The seed may be sown as soon as ripe. It should be rubbed 

 out between the hands before being sown. Hard pods may 

 be crushed and rubbed through a wire screen after which lay in 

 the air to dry. If the seed is old, soak in water over night before 

 sowing. Sow the seed in flats or pans filled with a mixture of 

 loam and leaf mold; well mix in equal parts and see that the 

 boxes or pans are well drained. After the seed is sown, water 

 carefully, and cover with about one-half an inch of the same 

 mixture to which a little sand has been added. They may then 

 be placed in a cool greenhouse and should be kept moist. 



It will take months for all the seed to germinate. They 

 will require the same care and protection from harm that any 

 other seedlings do. Flowers will probably appear on the seed- 

 lings within a year. Some of the Bourbon and Chinese varieties 



