CROSSING METHOD 117 



special characteristics of yield, quality, and vigor far in 

 excess of other plants growing under similar conditions. 



Crossing Method. --The crossing of plants consists in 

 removing the stamens of the flower before they have fully 

 matured, leaving the ovary to be fertilized by pollen taken 

 from some other plant of the same species. Barley, wheat, 

 and oats are " close fertilized " plants; that is, the stamens 

 and pistils are borne on the same flower, which are so closely 

 inclosed in its coverings that practically no pollen from 

 other plants can reach the ovary of the flower. Hence, 

 the same variety will breed true unless a cross is made by 

 artificial means. 



To obtain new strains of grains by crossing them, it 

 becomes necessary to remove the stamens of the flower 



Fig. 64. Open flowers of wheat and oats, showing reproductive organs. 



before they are far enough advanced to shed their pollen, 

 and a few days later to introduce pollen from another plant. 



