Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 402, 21 January 1904, Page 2

Farm and Garden.

- ' . <m " __ 6OTlf»BBBDING FBtflTS AN» " *' ©BAIN. ISKBN the breeding of plants the term §lB 'cross bred', is used when referring aflg to the crosses produced between different varieties of the same

species and the word hybrid when speaking' of new formß obtained by crossing such plaata aa are generally regarded as distinot epeoies. The results obtained from efforts at crossing or hybridisisg ,depenjjl much on the care taken in conducting the operation. In a general way, it ib believed by many '%xpeMment»rß ? that crosses in fruit inherit their. constitution largely from the pistillate or female parent, while the quality amv flavour of the f suit is muob influenced by

the other sex. The tools required in crossbreeding are'few, baitasteady hand has an important {bearing on the success of the work. The following is all thatia needed:' A pair of;.finely pointed foroeps, some camel's hair pencils. caner. and

dvius ununu o unu jiuuuub, paper, ana gauze bags large enough to incase the branches on which the blossoms to be worked are situated, twine for tying these bags in place, and a few wired labels to attach to the branohes on which the number of the cross or other particulars may be written. In all efforts at cross fertilising .paper bags are recommended for covering the flowers on account of the the cloßiriess of the material. Pollen grains are sometimes blown about by the wind, and are in most instances so very minute that they would pass readily through the finest gauze. With grain the paper bags have been allowed to remain on until the* close of the aeason, but with fruits or flowers after the fruit or seed is so far advanced as to be beyond the possibility of further ~influenee from pollen, the practice has teen to replace the paper bag with one of fine gauze which gives free access of air and light, and thus produces; healthy development. In choosing flower-buds to work, on all those which are. partially open should be rejected; alao those which are very immature, the' aim being to work on those which are so far advanced asi : to be nearly ready t> open. Having chosen the flower h* be operated on, remove carefully With the finely pointed .forceps the floral coverings, calyx and corolla, without bruising or injuring the internal organs. The stamens with their anthers are then tor» art Pay, leaving the pistil or pistils exposed When all the flowers selected have been thus prepared, they are at once inclosed in a paper bag, which is tied to the branch until pollen from the other variety to be used in the cross is secured. In obtaining pollen from the apple, pear, plum, cherry, strawberry, gooseberry, etc., it can generally be had in sufficient quantity and often in abundance, if branches well provided with blossom buds which are just abont to open, are cut and placed in a vessel of water, in a sunny place indoors. The anthers usually discharge their pollen in the morning, and by lightly pinching them between the finger and thumb, the fertilising powder can be seen in small patches \on the surface and with care can be transferred by the hand •to the flowers awaiting', fertilisation. Where one depends on obtaining pollen from flowers outside it will often be found that bees and other insects have preceded the hybridist, and in their efforts to gather nectar,, from the flowers, the "anthers have been so knocked about that such of the pollen has < been scattered. If the variety from which it is desired to obtain the pollen is later in blooming than the, individual to be crossed, the opening of the flowers may be hastened by cutting small branches well tarnished with blossom buds a few days before the pollen is needed, placing them in water and exposing them to heat and sunlight in a greenhouse. With wheat, barley, and oats the process is much more difficult than with

fruits. In working with wheat, the head should head should be selected soon after .it haa pushed out from the sheath. That head consists of a seriesi of dusters known as spikelets which are arranged alterternately on! opposite i sides of the stalk. Later each spikelet will contain from two to five kernels of wheat. In the early stages of the growth of the head the kernels are not formed, but the hollow centres .they are destined to fill are occupied by the more or less developed flowers of the plant. When operating oa wheat to effect a cross, the outer layer of chaff irtbrn off - with the finely pointed forceps and the inner ooatisg pulled back by seizing it near the tip and bending it downward, which exposes the flower. The anther s„are then caretully examined," and if their condition is sufficiently advanced to offer the possibility of any of the pollen having been shed, the spikelet to which it belongs is torn off and other flowers opened until some are found in the desired condition with the stamens green but almost mature. Those are removed with muoh case. " ■■■mm" if ' I' i" ' "' "' ' iTi/ii'i'"" '"" '