November, 1905 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



171 



251. The stigmas of different flowers are of 

 various forms. Here are a few: No. 1 is from a 

 lily; No. 4 from a pea. Some are very slender 



stamens must be removed from the one that 

 is to bear seed. To do this take flowers 

 in which no pollen has been shed. The 

 half-open ones will usually be in the right 

 condition, but in some flowers, like the 

 sweet pea, the pollen is shed before the 

 flower begins to open, and in such cases 

 very young flowers must be chosen. A 

 little careful observation will decide the 

 question, as the shed pollen gives the anther a 

 fuzzy, dusty appearance. Hold the flower 

 carefully with one hand and, with the forceps, 

 carefully pick off the petals that are in the 

 way. Then pick off the anthers. As there 

 are usually very many anthers be sure that 

 you get them all. Avoid any unnecessary 

 injury or mutilation. If the flowers are 

 in clusters you should pick off all but the 

 ones you wish to pollinate. This will give 

 you stronger flowers and in other ways 

 produce better results. 



Since the pollen from other flowers can 

 easily be transferred to yours, protect your 

 flower from foreign pollen immediately after 

 emasculation by covering it with an ordinary 

 paper sack or envelope. Tie this on carefully 

 but firmly. If it is much exposed to water 

 you can oil it with grease or vaseline, but 

 this is seldom necessary. 



After removing the stamens wait several 

 days before you pollinate, in order to allow 

 the stigma to become ripe or receptive. The 

 exact length of time depends upon the 

 age of the flower when eperated upon — the 



252. The plant breeder's tool kit is neither elab- 

 orate nor expensive. The magnifying glass is not 

 essential but is a great convenience. Label everything 



younger the flower the longer the time you 

 must wait. Here again a little observation 

 will aid you, for, when receptive, the stigma 

 excretes a gummy substance that gives it a 

 moist appearance. This excretion causes 

 the pollen to adhere and aids in the process 

 of fertilization. Both pollen and stigma will 

 remain active and receptive for several 

 days if pollination does not take place at 

 first maturity. Usually two to four days 

 is plenty of time to wait, but if doubtful 

 pollinate twice at an interval of two or three 

 days. 



The transference of the pollen may be 

 made in several ways. A common way is to 

 pick the pollen-bearing flower and rub or 

 shake it over the stigma. A more exact 

 way is to pick off a pollen-shedding stamen 

 with the forceps and rub it on the stigma 

 (as shown in Fig. 250). In some cases, where 

 considerable work is to be done, the pollen is 

 collected on dry paper or glass and trans- 

 ferred to the stigmas by means of a small 

 brush. This is the method in the case of 

 strawberries. For accurate work in such 

 cases a new brush should be used for each 

 kind of pollen. The essential thing is that 

 you get a single pollen grain upon a receptive 

 stigma, and that no foreign pollen has a 

 chance to pollinate it. After pollination 

 cover until the seeds begin to form. 



RECORDS 



When you pull out the stamens tag the 

 flower, and on the tag make the following 

 record: Male parent, female parent, when 

 stamens were removed and date of pollina- 

 tion. In giving the parents, use the symbol 

 9 for the stigma of pistil parent and c? for the 

 pollen or stamen parent. This tag should 

 remain till the seed or fruit is gathered. 

 As this may be several months, when the 

 record is complete rub the tag with vaseline or 

 grease. Make your record with lead pencil. 



When the seed is thoroughly ripe carefully 

 gather it and keep for future planting. 



HOW TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS 



Seed formation is the last step in the 

 first great phase of plant breeding. • For 

 the next phase, selection, no exact rules or 

 directions can be given. Too much depends 

 upon the individual worker and the end he has 

 in view. A few general principles can be 

 given : 



First. See that the seed is thoroughly 

 ripe, and in sowing observe the general rules 

 as given in any flower catalogue or garden 

 book. 



Second. Give the young seedlings even- 

 condition possible for the best growth and 

 carefully note their behavior. In this way 

 you can often tell much as to their thriftiness, 

 habit of growth, etc. 



Third. Compare carefully the characters 

 of the seedlings with those of the parents, as 

 this will tell you which ones to select for 

 further work. Sometimes one seedling will 

 be found that will differ markedly from all 

 the others. Give such a seedling the best 

 of care and attention, for it is in this way 

 that some of our finest fruits and flowers have 

 originated. 



253. Types of stamens. They must be removed 

 from flowers to be cross-fertilized. 1 and 8 lily, 2 apple. 

 3 pea, 4 geranium, 6 and 8 cobea 



Fourth. Keep accurate records and make 

 your work of scientific value. The day is not 

 far distant when we will ask about the 

 parentage of our choice plants as we now 

 do of our favorite animals. 



Fifth. Have some definite aim before 

 you and work steadily toward it. Interesting 

 side issues will continually rise to lead you 

 away from your original plan, and only 

 the exercise of watchful care will prevent 

 you from tryin^ to do so much that you will 

 do nothing. 



AN AMATEUR'S OPPORTUNITY 



I do not think there is any branch of 

 gardening work that offers such a fascina- 

 tion to the amateur, and the charm of the 

 whole thing is that a man with only a'.small 

 city back yard has equal opportunity with 

 the man owning an acre to produce some- 

 thing good. Some of the most sensational 

 new varieties of both flowers and vegetables, 

 which later become accepted as the standards 

 of merit in their respective groups, have been 

 the results of breeding experiments by ama- 

 teurs. Then, moreover, if a new plant of 

 sterling merit crowns one's efforts, there is 

 always some opportunity to dispose of it for a 

 good price, a satisfaction independent of that 

 of having attained success in one's hobby. 



254. Enclose the flower in a bag to exclude bees 

 after fertilisation. Always maKe a complete record 

 on a label attached to the fertilized flower 



