104 HORTICULTUKAL MANUAL. 



rains occur the thin muslin sacks are not torn or displaced, 

 as often happens with the paper sacks, and they are not so 

 much swayed by the winds, which with the paper often 

 injure the delicate pistils and ovary. The rrovice who 

 knows the parts of the flower can do this simple work as 

 well as the expert, and those who do not know the parts 

 will make no mistake if a minute's study is given to Fig. 

 10, showing an enlarged flower of the cherry. The floral 

 part, marked (cor), is clipped off before opening fully and 

 the stamens around the centre, marked (8), are clipped 

 off, taking care that the anthers do not lodge in the 

 emasculated flower. With the fruit blossoms that grow 

 in clusters, all should be clipped except one or two of the 

 strongest. In Nature it is not common for more than 

 one fruit to set in a cluster. With monoecious and 

 dioscious flowers (34) and pistillate flowers (35) we have 

 no stamens to take from the flowers supplied alone with 

 pistils. But they should be covered before fully opening 

 to exclude foreign pollen. 



109. When and How to Apply Pollen. When partly 

 developed flowers are emasculated the stigmas are not 

 ready for the pollen in less than three days, as a rule, even 

 when the weather is clear and warm. If cloudy and cool 

 they may not be ready in less than five or six days. The 

 usual mistake is applying pollen too soon. When ready 

 the stigmas exude a sticky nectar that holds the pollen 

 when applied. With the dry pollen gathered in advance 

 a small camel's-hair brush, slightly moistened, gives the 

 best results in covering the stigma with pollen dust. At 

 once, after pollination, the bag is replaced and the label 

 is attached, giving date and record of the pollen used. 

 This will indicate the flowers not receptive to which pollen 

 is to be applied the next day. In all work keep a brush 

 for each bottle of pollen used. 



