John Menzel.
Australian Bee
Winkie Carnival (A)
Brushing with Bees
John Menzel Winkie South Australia
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John Menzel. |
Australian Bee |
Winkie Carnival (A) |
Using bees to breed dahlias can be a very reliable and
consistent method of pollination if the following basic principles are adopted.
I prefer to use bees rather than the brush method because bees are very
knowledgeable individuals, and why not take advantage of it. This method is well
suited for those of us who are employed, and do not have the time to hand
pollinate.
The secret to the system is that one’s
Planting Plan is your Breeding Plan
so a lot of thought has to be put into the planning of one’s patch or plot.
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Winkie Colonel. |
Seedling Number 29 (B) |
Basically it is a matter of Put
Compatible Like Types With Compatible Like Types, and You Are Likely To Get a
Type You Will Like. This system is not just for the large grower because
these principles can be applied to the smallest of gardens.
Firstly one has to set their individual goals and then go for it.
The use of camel hair brushes or similar does take a lot of time, and the
individual must have to be extremely knowledgeable for one to gain any success,
not to mention time one has to put into the process.
One has to know the following:
When is the pollen parent mature?
When is the pollen mature?
What temperature is the introduction of pollen successful?
What is the ideal humidity for pollination to take place?
What is the best time of the year to perform the process?
Yes it sounds like one has to have a degree in biology, wear a white coat and conduct everything under sterile conditions. I do not have to know much because the Bees know it all and more, so why do I have to bother.
As an employer of the Bee they do not demand.
A. Overtime Rates.
B. Sick pay
C. Penalty rates
D. Protective clothing
E. Or become accredited in Obstetrics (pollination)
F. They just work from daylight to dark without
complaining. (weather conditions permitting)
The Bee does know.
1. When the pollen is mature.
2. When the temperature is just right.
3. When the humidity is right.
4. When the season is right.
5. The bee also knows how to apply the pollen onto
the correct parts of the flower.
6. Plus they come in armies of thousands.
All I have to do is to provide the bee with the right blooms in the right places and in the right order and the Bees do the rest.