The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-24

and it's foliage is "tri-foliate,'' that Is.
three-leafed. instead OF being single
leafed. :, That the new trees stand frosts
has already been demonstrated; for at the
experiment station where they are grow
ing they have survived several frosts
which have completely stripped the ordi-
nary trees. In their external appearance
the hybrlds show considerable freaktpess.
Some of them lop over like weeping will
lows while others are straight as aspens.
The operation by which one variety OF
plant is married to another is interesting.
The orange. like most plants, is bisexual.
That is, each flower contains within itself
all the organs necessary for reproduction.
The pollen is the male element, while the
stigma Ca small tube-lke formation in the
center of the blossom) Is the opening to
the cavity where the fruit and seeds are
matured. In the ordinary course of nature
the pollen grains from the same flower
or some flower on nearby tree fall on
the opening of the stigma, make their way
into the cavity below and fertiliZe the
seed.
But when it is desired to cross the
varieties. the experimenter takes small
pincers or scissors. and carefully removes
the little pods which bear the pollen. This
is done just before the flower opens and
while the pollen is still unripe and the
tubes are closed. Then pollen is gath
cred from the ripe flowers Of the other
variety and is carefully applied to the
stigma Of the flower which has had its
own pollen organs removed. Then the
flower Is carefully tied up in a gauze bag
to protect it from other pollen. or from
insects and birds. In the course of time
Gf successfully it develops fruit But this
fruit shows none of the effects of the
crossing; it is only when the seed from
this fruit IS planted, and a new plant Is
reared and bears fruit. that the results of
the cross can be determined. All this
takes time, and, in the case Of tree
which requires number Of years to ar
rive at the bearing age, it takes consider
able time. also patience. Moreover. when
1t becomes necessary to raise several gen.
erattons from seed, in order to get the
qualities desired, it may take lifetime
before the final result Is reached. In ex-
periments with the orange the seedlings
are made to bear earlier than they would
normally by grating the Seeding upon
the stock Of some tree which has reached
bearing age. By this means a Seeding
is induced to bear fruit in FIVE years.
For the sake Of those who might be
anxious to secure cuttings of the new
Weber hybrid, it should be stated that
the department Of agriculture is not yet
ready to begin the distribution. While
successful. the experiment has not vet
been completed. The next stage will be
the testing of the hybrid seedlings in all
the variations Of climate Of the southern
United States. For this purpose seedlings
will be sent to the government experiment
stations In order to find where they flour
ish best and just how far north they
may be grown in safety. But in a year
or two it Is expected that there will be
definite informa ton on all these matters,
and there will be enough of the seedlings
so that cuttings may be spared for horti-
culturists. Meantime the strain will be
crossed and recrossed in an infinite num-
Der of relationships, and great number of
the seedlings will be cultivated in order
that the full advantage may be had from
the new admiXture Of blood.
w W Ierroa,o