300 REPRODUCTION 



The process consists merely in a transference of pollen to the 

 stigmas of the flowers by means of a camel's-hair brush, a plume 

 of pampas-grass, or a rabbit's tail fastened to a small stick. 



In the case of the tomato, peach, and other plants with mono- 

 clinous flowers, merely shaking the plants is sometimes sufficient 

 to distribute the pollen satisfactorily, but the most efficient 

 method in the case of the peach and melon is first to collect 

 the pollen from the anthers by means of a camel's-hair brush, 

 and then apply the pollen-laden brush to the stigmas of the 

 flowers : with tomatoes it is best to shake a quantity of pollen 

 from several flowers into a watch glass or spoon, and then dip 

 the stigmas of the flowers into the pollen so collected. 



In the case of the melon where the flowers are diclinous, 

 tbe staminate flowers are sometimes pulled off the plant, and 

 after rolling back the corolla, the exposed anthers may be gently 

 brushed over the stigmas of the pistillate flowers intended to be 

 pollinated, or a whole male flower may be pushed into the corolla 

 of one of the latter and left there. Of course, in these and all 

 other instances the anthers must be in a dehiscent condition, so 

 that the pollen-grains are fully- formed and easily set free, and 

 the stigmas must be in a receptive condition. 



Where it is desired to cross or hybridise two particular varieties 

 or species of plants, it is necessary to proceed in a more careful 

 manner. One or more flowers upon the plant which is to acfas 

 the female parent or seed-bearer, must be selected for the opera- 

 tion, and must be prevented from receiving any other kind of 

 pollen upon their stigmas except that from a flower from the 

 plant which has been chosen as the male parent. 



Before attempting to cross two plants it is important to study 

 and become familiar with the structure of their flowers in regard 

 to the number and position of their sexual organs and whether 

 the flowers are protandrous or protogynous ; moreover, a know- 

 ledge of the appearance presented by the stigmas when they are 



