2i6 Tall Bearded Iris 



prepare it for the operation. Get the tip of a fall 

 between the fingers of the tweezers and carefully slip 

 them down the fall and break it off below the blade. 

 Repeat the operation on the other falls. Next get the 

 filament of a stamen between the fingers of the tweezers, 

 carefully part the stamen from the style-branch against 

 which it presses, and break it off below its anther. 

 In like manner remove the other stamens. 



In the course of an hour or two return to the flower, 

 and, if the standards have become partially expanded 

 and the stigmatic surface of the lips is exposed — 

 probably middle forenoon of the first day of bloom 

 gives the best opportunity for pollination — remove 

 the standards -with the tweezers in the same manner 

 as the falls. Some break off each fall and standard 

 at its base, but the style-branches are then more 

 likely to be injured by strong winds. The removal of 

 the standards is not necessary, but it will facilitate 

 pollination. The appearance of the flower after the 

 removal of the falls and standards (in case they have 

 been entirely removed) is shown infra in Fig. LVI. 

 Now proceed with a flower of the variety that is 

 desired as the other parent (usually called "pollen 

 parent"). Select one that has partially opened and 

 thus indicates maturity of the pollen, and — using the 

 tweezers as before — after carefully removing the falls 

 break off the stamens — which, if the pollen is mature 

 will appear as in Fig. LIV, B, page 213 — and place 

 them in the dish provided for that purpose. If the 

 pollen is mature some of it will fall out of the anthers 

 into the dish and the balance may be jarred or brushed 

 out. Returning with the dish to the prepared flower. 



