6. 



wheat there are sometimes two and even more fertile cen- 

 tral flowers, but in emmer these are generally sterile. 

 This leaves sixteen to twenty lower flowers on each head. 

 The anthers (three in number) are removed and the flower is 

 left in this condition as a rule for two days. The time 

 varies with the maturity of the flower when emasculated. 

 Care must always be exercised not to injure the flower 

 parts and especially the two-parted pistil. 



The heads after emasculation are covered with a 

 semi-transparent bag two inches wide and eight inches long 

 to prevent any possible cross pollination. In the green- 

 house it if not necessary to tie the bags on the heads. 



When the pistils are mature, that is, receptive to 

 pollen, they have developed a two-parted pistil. Both 

 divisions are very much branched which gives a feathery 

 appearance to the opened flower. &t this stage the stig- 

 mas have usually begun to show between the palea and the 

 flowering glume. If the flower is not pollinated, the 

 glumes begin to spread apart exposing the pistil not only 

 to its own pollen but to any pollen that might be carried 

 to it. This is the most advantageous time to pollinate 

 as the stigmas are most receptive at this stage and a 

 greater percentage of grain will be secured. The pollen 

 to be effective should be ripe. Anthers that are opening 

 are the best, but if they cannot be found, anthers which 

 are very yellow must be used. Some of these will soon 

 open and shed their pollen. In this way all the anthers 



