I had no problem finding a tuning fork at my local music store,
although the (obvious) question of "Which key do you require" did
throw me. I didn't have the time or energy to explain why I actually
needed the thing so I just blurted out the first note I could think of
(an E, I think). Anyway, it works just fine. Obviously the music shops
in Somerset are not quite as sophisticated and advanced as those in
Rushden, Loyd. :-)
> Tuning forks come in all shapes and sizes (not to mention
> keys) the important thing is that the fork is small enough
> to touch the flower parts. My fork is a bit over 12cm in
> length a '659 E fork' made by John Walker England, and
does
> a smashing job.
>
> >Scrape a small amount of pollen using (in order of
personal
> >preference)a small knife, tweezers or a brush coating the
> >stigma. Be
> >warned though, that I have never got a B. gigantea to
self
> >fertilise.
>
> Yep - the flowers I self pollinated failed to set seed. I
> was informed that you may get a couple of seeds by
Although on the other hand B. liniflora ssp Occidentalis, which has a
similar system for dispersing pollen seems to self quite well,
although you get far better results if you cross with other clones.
> Why Mister Wilson you should have told me as I've been up
to
> my eye balls in flowers all Summer. Should have some more
> flowers open at the week end if you and Peter need some
> pollen - any one else out there need some whilst I'm out
> with my tuning fork?
I'd be glad to relieve you and your eyeballs of some pollen.
-- Phil Wilson (cp@pwilson.demon.co.uk)