42 PLANT CULTURE 



might produce seed but it would not be a cross between the two va- 

 rieties we wish. At noon the bag is removed and the flower examined 

 with a lens. If the tip of the pistil looks sticky, pollen from the 

 Earliana may be placed upon it, otherwise we would wait until the 

 pistil becomes sticky. The pollen may be transferred by a camel's 

 hair brush or the stamen of Earliana may be picked and carried to 

 the emasculated flower. After covering the tip of the stigma with 

 pollen the bag is again placed on the flower and a tag is attached to 

 the stem noting the fact that the flower has been crossed with 

 Earliana. (See Fig. lo.) 



All crossing is a modification of this method. Some flowers are 

 easier to emasculate than the Tomato and others are more difficult. 

 For easy work cross the Gladiolus or the Petunia; their sexual or- 

 gans are very distinct. The stronger parent is usually employed as 

 the seed bearer. Some flowers, as the Carnation, will require one 

 week after emasculation before pollination may be carried on. 



In Cucumbers, Squashes, Pumpkins and like plants each flower 

 bears only one sex. The female flower (see fig. 13-A) has an 

 embryo Squash beneath it — it has no stamens; the male flower (fig. 

 13-B) has no ovary. It is necessary, therefore, that a bee carry 

 the pollen from the male to the female flower, otherwise no seed is 

 formed. 



Saving Seed from Desirable Plants 



In saving seed for propagating superior plants the character- 

 istics of the whole plant should be considered. 



Let us speak of the Tomato again. Should you care to save seed 

 of a plant, bear in mind that vigor of growth, quahty of fruit and 

 productiveness are essential features. Be careful, therefore, to 

 choose the plant which bears well-developed fruit and is a good 

 yielder as well. Large Tomatoes are often found on plants bearing 

 few fruits; consequently, they are not the most desirable to select 

 for seed purposes. Tomatoes for seed must be allowed to thoroughly 

 ripen. All seeds should remain on the plants until ripe, but must 

 be picked before they scatter their seeds. 



In saving seed of Primroses, Cyclamens, Pinks and other flowers 

 it is better to cross the flowers with others on the same plant if one 

 wishes to keep the sorts as true as they were. Saving seeds from 

 desirable plants is quite different from h\'bridizing plants; in the 

 former case we are attempting to keep the variety true, in the 

 latter we are expecting something new and different. 



