36 Bush-Fruits 



be found. Cut off all younger buds, all which have already 

 begun to open, all flowers and all fruit which has already 

 set, leaving only the few unopened buds which are of 

 about the same age. The next step is to remove all 

 stamens from these buds. As the number of stamens is 

 large, to remove each one separately would be a tedious 

 task. Fortunately, in the rose and saxifrage families, to 

 which these fruits belong, the stamens are borne on the 

 calyx. This enables us to get rid of them all by simply 

 cutting away the calyx. This can be conveniently done 

 either with fine, sharp-pointed scissors, or with a spatula 

 made from a pin stuck in the end of a stick, then flattened 

 and sharpened at the edges. Turn the bud 

 (Fig. 7) bottom side up, and cut a circle around 

 the stem not far from it. The whole calyx 

 will then come away, taking the stamens with 

 it. After all the buds have been thus treated, 

 Fig 7 care being taken that no anthers are left, the 

 Raspberry cluster is covered with a paper sack. Half or 



bud ready , 



to emascu- quarter-pound grocers sacks answer the pur- 

 pose well. If the open end of the bag is 

 moistened, the paper can be pressed more closely about 

 the stem. Some flat material is best for tying, raffia 

 being most convenient if at hand. One or more clus- 

 ters on the variety which is to be used as the male par- 

 ent should be covered in the same way, in order to have 

 pure pollen to apply at the right time. When first emascu- 

 lated, a raspberry bud will have much the appearance 

 shown at left in Fig. 8, but usually in about two days, in 

 warm weather, it will have developed far enough to be 

 ready for pollination. It will then have the appearance 



