68 The Amateur's Booh of the Dahlia 



Gustave Douzon gave four blooms, only one of 

 which would set seed. The seedlings of these 

 (bee crossings) were of no value and were de- 

 stroyed, yet their performance satisfied me that 

 Nature tries to provide for the continuance of 

 the species by one means if the other shows a 

 possibility of failure. 



Nature's method of pollinating by means of 

 bees and other insects is the surest way of get- 

 ting the most seeds and the strongest plants. 

 This is usually a jump in the dark, but Nature 

 can be guided a little by planting side by side the' 

 varieties desired to be crossed. Further than 

 that, flowers can sometimes be tied to face each 

 other closely. Bees will naturally dance from 

 one to the other with their burden of pollen, 

 and the wind will carry it also. 



Nevertheless, we cannot guard against the 

 bees and the wind bringing undesirable pollen 

 as well. Unfortunately, undesirable pollen often 

 is more effective with the stigma than the 

 pollen we prefer, and the resulting seedlings are 

 disappointing. We must plant thousands of 

 seedlings in order to get one which possesses 

 all the qualities we desire — think of the labour ! 



Now let us study artificial poUenizing. Defi- 

 nite results can never be depended upon with 

 dahlias. They are mongrels and "blood will 



