144 Gardening 
Wrap a small handful of cotton about the stem where the mouth 
of the bag is to be tied, and then tie the bag to the stem (Fig. 77). 
In about 2 days the flowers thus prepared may be pollinated. 
From the plant that has been selected for the pollen parent remove 
a flower having fully expanded petals and anthers that are shedding 
pollen. Hold this flower by its stem and shake pollen directly 
from the stamens on to the ends of the pistils to be pollinated. 
Tag each flower cluster, rebag, and leave for about 5 days, or 
until it is certain that fertilization has been accomplished. Then 
remove the bags, allow the fruits to become fully ripe, and collect 
the seeds. 
Note whether the fruits that come from the cross-pollinated 
flowers on the original parents are like the other fruits on the 
plant in color, size, and shape. If, for example, pollen of a yellow- 
fruited parent is used on pistils of a red-fruited parent, are the 
fruits red or yellow? How does this compare with crosses of 
black corn on white? 
Grow first-generation hybrid plants from these seeds and self- 
pollinate some of these for seed for a second hybrid generation. 
Are the fruits of the first hybrid generation alike as to shape, 
color, and size? Which parent do they resemble? 
Grow a number of the second-generation hybrid plants. Are the 
fruits of the various plants similar or very different in color, size, 
and shape? How many are like the immediate parent (first 
hybrid generation)? Do any resemble the grandparents? Are 
any of the fruits new in respect to color? to size? to shape? 
Do any characters of the original parents disappear in the first- 
generation hybrids and reappear in certain of the second-genera- 
tion hybrids? Do the plants differ from each other in respect to 
such characters as size, vigor of growth, shape and color of 
leaves, amount of fruit produced, and earliness of ripening fruit ? 
11. To learn how to cross-breed pumpkins. Select a pistillate 
flower that is nearly ready to open. Place a stick firmly in the 
soil in an upright position beside this flower. Invert a bag over 
the flower and tie it about the stem of the flower, protecting the 
flower and stem with a small handful of cotton at the place where 
the tie is made. Tie the bag to the stick also so that its weight 
will be supported. Another way to keep insects from entering 
the flower is to tie the ends of the flower with soft twine or strong 
yarn. This prevents the flower from opening. As bees are likely 
