POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION 173 



emasculate a flower with one motion. As many as 1200 cherry 

 blossoms have been emasculated, bagged, and labeled by one 

 man in a single hour by this method, although from 500 to 

 800 blossoms an hour are nearer 

 the average for each man. 



With pome-fruits, such as the 

 apple, pear, and quince, the calyx- 

 tube or hollow torus develops into 

 a portion of the fruit. When 

 blossoms of the pear and apple are 

 emasculated by the method just 

 explained, the fruit formed will 

 be somewhat deformed. In order 

 to prevent fruit-deforming, it is T 



FIG. 108. Position of the fingers 



the custom in emasculating flowers for emasculating. 

 of the pome-fruits to leave the calyx, merely removing the 

 petals and anthers. With the thumb and second finger the 



corolla is grasped, a little 

 to one side near the top, and 

 pulled off. Care must be 

 taken not to grasp the 

 pistil, otherwise its top will 

 be torn off when the petals 

 are removed. The flowers 

 minus the corolla will be 

 seen to have the stamens 

 attached to the rim of the 



Fl Sige??nIi uttin8 through the calyx with the calyx-cup. The stamens 



can be scraped off by 



running the points of curved forceps around inside the rim 

 of the cup. If any of the anthers fall into the calyx-cup, 

 they can be blown out with the breath. This is a fairly 

 rapid method, it being possible to emasculate, bag, and 

 label about 200 blossoms an hour. 



269. Bagging the blossoms. Although bees do not visit 



