AMERICAN HOME GAKDEN. 79 



This fertilizing flower, if it -withers, may be repeatedly renew- 

 ed, or rather i-eplaced by fresh flowers, until the flower-leaves 

 of the other begin to fade or fall. It is plain that erect blos- 

 soms, especially on fruit-trees, should be chosen for this opera- 

 tion, so that the fertilizing flower may rest securely in its 

 place. 



There is a more scientific mode of fertilization, in which this 

 latter precaution is not essential. It is to prepare the blossom 

 you intend to fertilize as aljove directed, and, taking care to 

 mark the time of its maturing, which will be about the fore- 

 noon of the day in which the blossom becomes naturally full- 

 blown, take one or more of the fertilizing flowers in the ripe 

 state — that is, when the stamens willingly shed their pollen 

 or dust, and, gathering this upon a fine camel-hair pencil, ap- 

 ply it lightly but freely to the top of the pistil or stigma. 



A very little observation and practice will enable one to 

 adopt this mode successfully. The general security for the 

 result will also be increased by fertilizing several blossoms in 

 a bunch, and removing the rest, or even all the bunches upon 

 a small branch, reducing the number of the blossoms in each. 

 To prevent the intrusion of insects, fix over, but not in contact 

 with them, a gauze net, spread upon a wooden frame of any nec- 

 essary form and size, which should be securely braced to the 

 tree or branch so as to bear the wind, which may be left in its 

 place until the fruit sets. 



In plants that are monoecious, as melons, cucumbers, etc., or 

 dioecious, as some grape-vines, it is only necessary to set the 

 plants, to be fertilized hj themselves, at least a hundred yards 

 distance from any others of the same kind, and, taking oif and 

 carrying away all the mere fertilizers, or false blossoms, as they 

 are commonly called, bring flowers from other plants and fer- 

 tilize them by either of the processes described above, and with 

 similar precautions against insects. 



PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES. 



The tendency of seeds to deterioration and inteignixture, 

 whether arising from their necessary proximity in small gar- 

 dens, or from the interest, the ignorance, or the carelessness of 



