248 



LESSON'S WITB PLANTS 



285a. In Fig. 233 the bud at the right has been emasculated. 

 The other shows the size of the bud at the time of the opera- 

 tion. It is best to delay the operation as long as possible and 

 yet not allow the bud to open (and thereby expose the flower to 

 foreign pollen) nor the anthers to discharge the pollen. 



286. The emasculated flower 

 nust be covered with a bag to 



prevent the access of pollen. 



If the stigma is not receptive 

 it the time (as it usually is 

 not), the desired pollen is not 

 applied at once. The bag may 

 be removed from time to time 

 to allow of examination of the 

 pistil, and when the stigma is 

 mature, which is told by its 

 glutinous or roughened appear- 

 ance (148), the time for polli- 

 nation has come. 



PiB. 234. 



Flower covered with a 

 paper bag. 



286o. The flower may be covered with a 

 grocer's common manilla bag, as in Fig. 234. 

 The bag may be handily prepared by thrust- 

 ing a string through the two flaps (as in 

 Fig. 235) and tying it at one of the edges. If the bag is 

 slightly moistened, it can be puckered more tightly about the 

 stem of the plant. The time required for the stigma to mature 

 varies from several hours to a few days. 



287. When the stigma is ready, an unopened 

 anther from the desired flower is crushed upon 

 the finger-nail or a knife -blade and the pollen is 



