HYBRIDIZING AND CROSSBREEDING I97 



He will notice inside the shell a tiny cob, not unlike a corn 

 cob. This is covered all around with the tiny ovules, just 

 as the corn cob is covered with the grains of corn. From 

 the tip of the cob there is a thread leading to each stigma 

 and through which the life passes from the pollen to the 

 ovule. Inasmuch as each ovule represents a unit and is 

 fertilized independently of the others, it stands to reason 

 that a liberal application of pollen is hkely to produce a 

 well filled seed pod, although it is a recognized fact that 

 some varieties produce seed more freely than others. There 

 are varieties that will not produce seed. Others will not 

 produce pollen, while most varieties produce both. 



Care should be exercised when watering to keep the 

 pollenized bloom dry. If fertilization takes place, the 

 flower will go to sleep within three days, at which time it is 

 advisable to slit the calyx in such a manner that no moisture 

 may collect to rot the seed pod. Each pollinated flower 

 should be tagged, giving the parentage and the date of 

 pollinization. 



We have found little, if any, diff"erence between the 

 percentage of successful crosses, according to the time of 

 the year the cross was made, but there are other reasons 

 why late Fall or early Winter are the most desirable for 

 this work. It should be done while there are no bees 

 around, else your record tags will be of little value. 



It will require from six to ten weeks for the seeds to 

 ripen, at which time you will notice the shell taking on a 

 brownish tint. Do not leave the pod on the plant until it 

 bursts open, else you might lose some of the seed, but 

 gather a few days before, taking a few joints of the stem 

 along with it. Place in an envelope until well ripened and 

 then sow in a light, well drained soil, covering the seeds 

 about one-eighth of an inch deep. In about eight days 



