SEED RAISING AXD HYBRIDIZING 97 



operating upon. The experience of the writer is 

 against any radical cross-color scheme; if whites and 

 reds are crossed, in nearly every case the progeny will 

 have an indefinite color; keep well within similar color 

 lines for best results, never losing sight of the ideal 

 aimed at. 



Ordinarily, it is best that the plant used for seed 

 producing should be pot grown in a somewhat sterile 

 soil, so as^to have the reproductive organs in as near 

 a normal condition as possible; excessive use of stim- 

 ulants or an over-rich soil tends to unduly develop the 

 reproductive organs in many varieties. Plants grown 

 under a high state of culture are apt to be less inclined 

 to produce well developed seed, because of an excessive 

 flow of sap; not so with the pollen producing parent 

 oftentimes it is best to give good culture in order to 

 secure a liberal supply of pollen. 



GATHERING AND APPLYING THE POLLEN 



When gathering pollen a dry, sunshiny day should 

 be selected, as it is generally easier to collect it in 

 bright weather than on a dark or murky day, the 

 plants perfecting a larger quantity and in better con- 

 dition for use in fine weather. One method of apply- 

 ing the pollen to the stigma is to select a piece of soft 

 pine, whittled down to the size of a toothpick, chewing 

 the point into fibrous shreds these will hold the 

 particles of pollen and they can be deposited on the 

 stigma immediately. This is the direct method. 



Another and more speedy way is to take a piece 

 of clean glass of such size that it can be placed directly 

 under the center of the flower. It is best to have 

 assistants hold the piece of glass, and when the flower 

 is held over the glass, in a horizontal position, a rap 

 from the back of a knife will cause the pollen to be 



