Making Crosses & Black Magic
- To: Iris Listserver <I*@Rt66.com>
- Subject: Making Crosses & Black Magic
- From: S* M* <7*@compuserve.com>
- Date: 16 Mar 96 20:08:40 EST
Linda Mann writes:
.>> sharon - what does this mean? what is the right amount? and do you run
back
>> and forth across your garden getting a toothpick of pollen from the donor
>> each time you make a cross? (i have this mental cartoon image of hybridizers
>> leaping over rows of plants holding aloft toothpicks impaling anthers like
>> little vienna sausages, hoping the wind doesn't dry out or blow away the
>> pollen grains)
O.K. Bet you can make a series of cartoons out of this.
My hybridizing kit is a fishing tackle box. It contains tweezers, colored
toothpicks, condiment cups, masking tape, stringed tags, Sharpies, notebook,
pencils & pens.
1. Select the prospective pollen parent, use tweezers to pluck anthers and
put them in a condiment cup, stick a strip of masking tape on the cup and write
the name of the variety on the tape with a Sharpie.
2. Select the prospective pod parent, use a colored toothpick to lift a
small amount of pollen off of the previously-harvested anther and spread it
across the stigmatic lip. The "right amount" will look kind of like the
granulated sugar covering on a doughnut/
3. Record the cross on a stringed tag with the Sharpie and fasten the tag to
the stalk.
4. Remember to clean the tweezers between handling anthers from different
varieties and use a fresh toothpick for each variety of pollen.
As for identifying traits of Black Magic. Mine had a very strong anise scent.
Sharon McAllister
Southern New Mexico
73372. 1745 @compuserve.com
