First lessons in agriculture F. A. Gulley

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. 1887 Excerpt: ... the field and select ears for seed from stalks bearing two or more ears, we would get ears containing kernels of corn that were fertilized possibly with pollen from stalks bearing but one ear, or no ear at all. If, however, we plant a small patch of corn off by itself, on good ground, and, just before the tassels are fully developed, go through the corn and cut the tassels from all stalks having less than two ears, we would have corn fertilized by two-ear stalks only, and we might certainly look for improvement. 158. By controlling the fertilization of corn for several years in succession, in the manner described, planting on good soil, and cultivating thoroughly to develop the growing habit, the yielding capacity of any variety of corn may be largely increased. The productiveness of certain kinds has been more than doubled in this way. 159. Artificial fertilization of flowers having both stamens and pistils, is practiced by carefully removing the stamens from the flower with small nippers before they are fully developed, protecting the flower with a paper or cloth covering from pollen floating in the air, and when the pistil is ready, carrying matured stamens from the flower of the plant that possesses the desired quality, and carefully shaking the pollen off on the pistil to be fertilized. The plants grown from seed resulting from crossfertilization may not have the good qualities of either parent, but occasionally valuable varieties are produced in this way. 160. Improvement by the simple selection of seed from the best plants is more certain in closefertilized flowers, such as are found in wheat (see 147), than in plants like corn, where pollen is easily carried from one plant to another by the wind. The quality of the grain may be improved by blowing ... Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге First lessons in agriculture (F. A. Gulley)