114 



SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



flower covered with a paper or mosquitoaietting bag to 

 prevent self-fertilization or its receiving any other pollen 

 than that which we have selected. If the pistil is produced 



on a separate plant, it 

 must be covered also ex- 

 cept when we are placing 

 pollen upon it. When 

 the pistil is ready to re- 

 ceive the pollen, we select 

 and carry it to the plant 

 bearing the pistil, remove 

 the sack gently, shake 

 the pollen on the stigma, 

 or better still, place it 

 there with a fine camel's 

 hair brush, tie the sack 

 securely about the blos- 

 som again and the deed 

 is done. 



Ordinarily no results 

 from this cross are seen 

 in the first crop of seed 

 secured. The plants 

 which come from this 

 seed, however, often pre- 

 sent a variety of form and 

 flowers, some resembling 

 one parent and some an- 

 other with many inter- 

 mediate types. 



Fertilization by hand 

 properly belongs to a kind of work called plant' breeding, 

 and requires special knowledge. As amateurs, we can not 

 expect great results from it. 



Fig. 37 



- Blossom fixed for crossing. 



