How [lew Varieties Are Born 
There is no phase of flower grow- 
ing more fascinating than developing 
new varieties. All that is needed is 
a keen sense of observation, a well 
developed curiosity, and a pair of 
deft hands. Of course a yen for keep- 
ing records and a few simple tools 
will aid in the scientific aspects. As 
most gardeners are well supplied with 
these qualities, the only other thing 
needed is a knowledge of the me- 
chanics of hybridization which are so 
easy they can be performed by a child. 
Flowers have two essential sexual 
parts. the stigma and the anthers. The 
stigma is the female part. The an- 
thers are the male parts carrying the 
pollen. On glads these parts in the 
center of every floret are quite dis- 
cernable and easily distinguished from 
one another. 
To properly cross glads one should 
have a supply of the small blank price 
tags with strings attached like those 
used by department stores, a pair of 
tweezers, a supply of small envelopes 
and paper bags and of course a lead 
pencil, soft lead preferable. 
Go into the garden early on the 
morning the florets you intend to use 
first open. With the tweezers re- 
move the anthers. If of a desired 
variety these can be dropped into a 
properly labeled envelope and used 
later on other specimens. Next tie a 
label (price tag) to the floret loosely 
so as not to interfere with future 
growth of the seedpod. The label is 
applied now to aid in finding the pre- 
pared floret the next day. To be 
thoroughly accurate and scientific a 
paper bag should now be tied over the 
floret so bees and humming birds 
cannot reach the stigma with un- 
wanted pollen. Bagging is not al- 
Ways done as it has been found that 
if all but the top hood petal is cut 
or broken away the bees and birds 
seldom bother it. Many breeders 
merely remove the anthers hoping 
that the few chance crosses may give 
as good or better results as their own. 
The stigma is seldom receptive the 
first day so when the desired number 
of florets are prepared you wait until 
the next day to do the actual crossing. 
Crosses are most successful if made 
during the warmer part of the day, 
from about noon till 5 o’clock, and 
seldom take during rainy or damp 
weather. Upon returning the next 
day, pollen of the desired variety is 
dusted carefully on the end of the 
stigma of the previously prepared 
floret. When properly receptive the 
three tiny prongs of the stigma will 
be open and covered with a slightly 
sticky substance. Close observance 
will soon teach you the right time to 
apply the pollen. Now write the 
name of the stigma or seed bearing 
parent followed by the name of the 
pollen parent on the label. If your 
crosses are successful in three or 
four weeks there will be fat seed pods 
that must now be watched so that 
they may be harvested as soon as the 
pods begin to split open. Place the 
pods in properly labeled bags and 
store them in a cool dry place. When 
dry clean the pod shells and the small 
wafer-like disk off the seed during 
spare time. In the spring plant the 
seed not over one inch deep in well 
prepared fertile beds, again labeling 
properly. Keep well watered thru- 
out the season as only a few hours dry 
will often kill the tiny seedlings once 
they start to grow. In sections where 
the weather is hot and dry a lathe 
shade will be found helpful. If suc- 
cessful in the fall you will be able to 
harvest a small bulb for each seed 
that grew. They now require the 
same care as other glad bulbs. With 
good care many of these should bloom 
the second summer and you will be- 
come a confirmed ‘‘Glad Fiend’. 
Note: Sports are not developed 
from seed but are mutations or freaks 
that develop in bulb diversion. 
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