PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES 139 



disc florets, I is the petal which fur- 

 nishes the colour. This is provided with 

 a style or pistil, and when in condition, 

 or fully expanded, is in proper condition to 

 receive the pollen which is applied to the 

 upper surface ($), known as the stigma. 

 The disc floret (2) also has a style, but is 

 provided with stamens (C), which furnish 

 the pollen. These should be removed from 

 the seed plant with the points of the scissors, 

 to prevent self-fertilization. After the 

 flower head has been trimmed, select the 

 desired flower for pollen. Push aside the 

 ray florets or petals until the disc florets are 

 in view. Collect the dust-like pollen on a 

 camel's hair pencil or toothpick and apply 

 to the stigmas of the flowers previously pre- 

 pared. This completes the operation. How 

 fertilization takes place is fully described 

 by Prof. Bentley in his "Manual of Botany": 

 "When the pollen falls upon the stigma its 

 intine protudes through one or more pores 

 of the extine in the form of a delicate tube 

 which penetrates through the cells of the 

 stigma, by the viscid secretions of which it is 

 nourished. These pollen tubes continue to 

 elongate by growth and pass down the con- 



