108 PEOPAGATIOir OF PLANTS. 



In some instances it may be necessary to remove a part, 

 or force open the petals or other orgaiis that envelop 

 those to be operated upon. It is also advisable, in many 

 instances, to anticipate nature in such operations by a 

 few hours, or even days, and place the pollen in a posi- 

 tion where it will be utilized by the stigma when re- 

 quired. 



In crossing and hybridizing the Grape, it is a common 

 practice to anticipate nature by several hours, because 

 its flowers do not expand like those of the Lily, Eose and 

 similar plants, but instead, the petals cohere to oue 

 another at the top, breaking loose at the base, and are 

 then forced upward by the elongation of the stamens and 

 pistils, as shown in figure 46, A, the petals being thrown 



Fig. 46. — FLOWEES OP THE GEAPE. 



off in the form of a cap. The five stamens then expand, 

 as shown in figure 46, B, these surrounding the pistil, 

 C. The anthers should be immediately removed with 

 a pair of small and sharp-pointed scissors, leaving them 

 as seen in the figure at D. In the illustration, figure 

 46, the G-rape flowers are shown somewhat enlarged. 

 Before commencing to operate upon an immatui-e cluster, 

 it is well to thin out the undeveloped flowers, not only to 

 facilitate manipulation, but also to prevent the crowding 

 of the fruit when fully grown. An immature cluster of 

 flowers thus prepared must be closely examined from day 

 to day, and so soon as the petals break loose from their 

 base they should be carefully thrown off with the point 

 of a knife or other sharp-pointed implement, and the 

 anthers removed as directed. Pollen may be immediately 



