of any two. We will concisely explain it. It 
should be remembered that plants must be nearly 
related to each other; that is, of the same genus. 
For instance, one Fuchsia may be mixed with 
another Fuchsia; but a Fuchsia cannot be mixed 
with a Geranium. Some deviations from this 
apparent law of nature have occurred, but these 
are not at present worth mentioning. 
Fertilization is effected simply by conveying the 
pollen (that fine powder which may be shaken off 
the anthers) of one flower to the stigma of another. 
Success, however, is rendered more certain by first 
cutting out tlie anthers of the flower from which 
seed is desired, before any of their own pollen has 
been scattered. As some flowers discharge it 
before they expand, they should be opened before 
they would do so naturally, for the purpose of 
thus taking out the anthers, and at the same 
time, or on the morrow, the pollen of the 
other flower experimented on, should be applied. 
The pollen may be conveyed by picking a flower, 
or collecting it on a camel’s-hair pencil, for the 
purpose of applying it to the stigma, which is the 
glutinous termination of the style. In the Azalea 
and Rhododendron the style will be readily dis- 
tinguished, there being but one in each flower; 
which must not be injured, where it is required to 
produce seed. To be still more particular, and to 
prevent bees from carrying other pollen to the 
fertilized flower, a piece of muslin should be tied 
over it, or those little intruders may thw^art the best 
conducted manipulations. The flower should be 
marked, and the seed preserved for sowing. 
