Proceedings of the Society for Horticultural Science Volume . 1-8 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...of making potato crosses is largely the cause of this. I wish to discuss here some questions relating to this particular difficulty in the light of some data obtained at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station during an investigation which included some seven hundred varieties collected from different parts of the world. Among the general facts that have been observed in crossing about two thousand blossoms are the following: The flowers close slightly about dusk and open in the morning between 5 and 6 o'clock. The large fleshy anthers open normally with small terminal pores, but in those varieties producing the most viable pollen, they generally split later down their full length at the side. For artificial pollination, the pollen can be obtained and applied most easily by splitting the epidermis of the anther down the side and lightly scraping its interior with the point of a knife. This operation is necessary because of the tendency of all varieties to retain their pollen. The pollen appears to be in the best condition for use in the early morning of the second day of blooming, and it is then that the stigma is most receptive. When making crosses for the purposes of study, the common custom of bagging the blossoms before their opening has been followed. The flowers are then emasculated just as the blossom begins to open. They do not need to be emasculated in the bud, for the anthers never open until after the flower has opened completely. For all practical purposes, however, this precaution is unnecessary. The flowers produce no nectar, and are very rarely visited by nectar-seeking or pollen-eating insects. Muller mentions some observed cases, but with very careful watching we have not been able to notice any probable pollination by...