THE NEW OPUNTIAS 



shine of the hottest summer months. From a 

 half-hour to two hours and a half the blossoms 

 are then in fullest bloom. Particular care was 

 found necessary in the crossing to see that no 

 possible trace of vagrant pollen was upon the 

 stigma of the plant to be crossed with pollen 

 from another. Every step in the great work 

 must be safeguarded. Thousands of pollena^ 

 tions were to be made; all of them must be 

 made by skilled men; only a brief portion of 

 each day and but a short portion of the 

 year was available for the work. 



The cactus plant first opens its blossom and 

 presents its stigma for pollen from insects. It 

 has learned this habit through age-long pro- 

 cesses. When a certain^time has elapsed, how- 

 ever, and no insect cpmes along bearing the 

 fructifying pollen on leg or wing, the stamens 

 of the plants can wait no longer, and, bursting 

 forth, they sift their golden secret down upon 

 the receptive stigma and pollenation has be- 

 gun. It is at this particular period when the 

 plant is waiting for the insect that the breeder 

 must be prepared for his work, — no detail 

 can be overlooked, everything must be in 

 readiness. 



379 



