The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-26

sweet, mild, but peculiar in flavor. Its
faults are small size and such deep
blue-biack that stains the mouth pur-
pie, and 1t bears only when allowed to
ramble freely. Now, could Seeding,
large in size, the same in color, amena-
BILE to trellis culture, be had from it,
fine wine grape would result, with the
richest color. Could another Seeding
be had, large in size, less in color. equal
ly early, as sweet, and with the same
flavor, it would be valued table grape.
This is q sample of what the whole coun-
try abounds with, being full of these
germs Of excellence given by kind
Providence, not to be wasted and de-
spised because He who gave them did
not see fit to complete them, but left that
for US to do, presenting them at every
mans door-a fact that the originator of
the Concord, happily, did not overlook
when, in the vicinity of his homestead,
he sought the parent vine as the one
most fitted to be maturcd there.
HOW TO HYBRIDIZE THE GRAPE.
The grape opens its flower by singu-
lar process, different from most other
plants. We see the cherry, peach and
apple expand their petals, and retain
them with their white or red colors sew
eral days; but the grape has its petals so
united at the top Of the flower that, as it
opens, the petals are drawn off from their
attachments and cast off in a sort of hood
that falls to the ground, leaving the sta
mems and pistil naked. If there is any
difficulty in making hybrids it is the re-
moval OF this hood, which should be done
as soon as it is loose, and before it is
naturally thrown off and so do it as not
to jar down the pollens Of the stamens on
the top of the pistil, tor have often seen
the pollen fall like minute cascade OF
yellow particles, so heavy it is, and so
direct and rapid its tall. Notwithstand-
ing this apparent difficulty, the hood can
be easily removed by the use of forceps
and scissors no more delicate, nor by a
hand more steady. than IS required by
the surgeon in many cases daily demand
ing his skill. One circumstance l have
not seen noticed; it is, that as soon as
the hood OF petals is off, the top OF the
pistil begins to be covered with mi
mute globe of transparent fluid, beauti-
fully clear and highly retroactive, gllsten-
ing like dew drop on the top of the
pistil 1t takes usually from few mo-
ments to an hour or two, according to
the weather, for this minute globule to be
perfected.
Now, no impregnation can take place
unless this minute drop of fluid is secret
ed so far as to receive the pollen-that
is, until it is almost or quite expanded
to its full extent, which is rarely before
tie petal-hood has fallen, whether by art
or nature. One more fact-the pollen
falls on, adheres to, and sinks into this
minute drop; and as soon as sufficient
quantity has thus been received by this
drop OF fluid it becomes turbid or milky,
losing its Transparency, and is drawn
into certain pores or tubes, which are
seen by their mouths rs roughness on
the stigma, which is the enlarged por-
ton on the top of the pistil. Thus if
the pollen is abundant, and the weather
favorable, q few hours may suffice; if
not, day or two. or even the third dav,
may be required to complete the i'm
pregnation. Alter the third day have
not noticed the drops Of fluid, even
when the impregnation failed, the top of
the pistil being dry. A rain may wash
this drop off; and hence, though the
season is otherwise favorable, there may
be large failure OF grapes, though the
drop is often renewed. at least once or
twice after an accident
Not to trace other interesting items
here, it is seen that ii is possible for US,
arti6cially. to sprinkle this drop with pol
len from another plant at the right mo-
ment, so that although the stamens are
not cut away, the hybridization is
surely done, for we have merely to dust
thoroughly this minute drop. and preoc-
cupy its whole capacity, and the work is
done; and in few hours after the
whole drop Of fluid is drawn in, and the
top of the pistil is dry even before nat
ural impregnation would have been com.
pleted. So that l am convinced that the
successful hybridist needs to study well
this drop OF clear fluid on the top of the
pistil. 1t is only in case the weather
forces out 9rematurely this secretion. or
it comes out too tardily, or rain or other
accident removes the drop, or it is dnst-
ed over early with its own pollen, that
we are liable to fail in our hybrius.
The operator must notice, too, whether
it is secreted fully. else he may fail by
being too early, or too late, when the
drop is partially gone and little milky
with the absorbed pollen. Another cir
cumstance to be noticed is that in Ger
tain selected bunch of flowers all the
flowers do not open the same day, and
hence all the drops are not matured on
the pistils at once. Early in the morn
ing Of the first day of the opening OF the
flowers, at or soon after daylight, q few
of the petal-hoods fall and few drops
expand, but not many until the genial
warmth OF nine or ten o'clock is reach
ed, which is the most favorable hour for
the operation Of hybridzation. The OPP
orator then taking his stand close by the
bunch OF flowers, cuts away those that
have opened and expanded the drop full
~. while he watches for the loosening
OF number Of petal-hoods; these he I'M
meGiiately removes, either with fine for.
ceps or the point Of fine scissors.
For busting with pollen > snail CAM