Pollination: or How to Cross Plants 289 



Sometimes it is im- 

 possible to secure the 

 pollen at the time the 

 stigma is ready. In 

 some cases of this kind, 

 the intended parents can 

 be grown under glass so 

 as to bring them into 

 bloom at the same time. 

 In other cases, it is nec- 

 essary to keep the pollen 

 for some time. The 

 length of time that pol- 

 len will keep varies with 

 the species and probably 

 also with the strength 

 and vigor of the plants 

 that bear it. As a rule, 

 it will not keep more 

 than a week or two, 

 and, in general, it may 

 be said that the fresher 

 it is, the better it may 

 be expected to act. It 

 is best kept in dry and 

 tight paper bags, such 

 as are used for covering 

 the flowers. 



Something more should be said about the bags which are 

 used for covering the flowers. It has been found that 

 light transparent oiled paper bags are the best. For 



FIG. 96. Fuchsia flower tied up after 

 emasculation. 



