On Thu, 25 Mar 1999, "Tim" <prez@execs.com> wrote: > I am growing a large variety of chillies this year. > The problem is I only have a small growing area > and I want to prevent cross pollination of varieties > so that I can keep the seeds for next year. Since you just want to save enough seeds for next year, you're best option, IMHO, is the bagging method. Following's what the book _Seed to Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth (ISBN 0-9613977-7-2) says about this technique. Bagging involves covering the flowering portion of a plant, in order to isolate those flowers from insect pollinators or wind-blown pollen. Except for corn, bagging is usually used to prevent cross-pollination of self-pollinating plants. For example, a cluster of currant tomato blossoms could be bagged with spun polyester cloth to prevent any possible insect crossing. Bagging individual flowers or clusters of blossoms is especially useful in cases where only a small amount of seeds is needed and caging methods are not possible. Spun polyester cloth, often known by the trade name Reemay, is a popular bagging material as are other lightweight fabrics. Pieces of Reemay can be tied around individual flower heads or groups of flowers to prevent insects from entering. Reemay can also be sewed, heat-sealed or rolled and stapled to make bags for flowers. Always be certain, however, that the base of the bag is tightly secured around the stem. In some cases it may be necessary to wrap a cotton ball or cotton batting tightly around the flower stem before securing the bag with a twist tie, in order to prevent insects from crawling into the bag. Later when the bag is removed, the pods or fruits inside can be marked with pieces of bright yarn so that only their seeds will be saved. These bagging techniques don't work for some extremely fine-grained pollen is small enough to pass through Reemay and muslin. Such species are identified throughout the text of this book. Paper bags are often used, but can become a problem where summer rains are a prevalent. Treated paper bags are avail;able from Lawson Bag Co. (PO Box 8577, Northfield, IL 60093; Tel. 708/446-8812). Never use clear plastic bags or glassine envelopes, which can cause the flower to cook in the hot sun or become slimy from lack of ventilation. Suitable bagging techniques are discussed for each of the applicable vegetables in Section II and Section III. AND FOR CAPSICUMS Pepper flowers can also be bagged to prevent crossing. In the evening identify ready-to-open flowers and place a tiny spun polyester bag over unopened blossoms. At the same time place a maker on the flower stem. If a fruit forms, the marker will identify it for seed saving. The marker and bag will fall off with the aborted flower if the fruit fails to form. Always bag blossoms on as many different plants of that variety as possible and then mix the seeds from those fruits at harvest time, which will help retain some variation within the population. Excerpted from _Seed to Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth (ISBN 0-9613977-7-2). Reprinted with the permission of the publishers, The Seed Savers Exchange (3076 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101; tel. 319-382-5990, FAX 319-382-5872). [PERSONAL NOTE!! I would use finely-woven muslin for bagging instead of Reemay or any other type of `floating-row' material. Reemay will raise the temperature of the enclosed flower(s) a few degrees and I'm afraid the flower blossom would abort. This might not happen, but I `believe better safe than sorry'. As for pepper breeding, I suggest you first read (study) the book _Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: Popbeans, Purple Peas, and Other Innovations from the Backyard Garden_ by Carol Deppe (ISBN 0-316-18104-8) and then obtain (& read) _Breeding Vegetable Crops_ by Mark J. Bassett, editor. The latter book has a separate chapter on just peppers (Capsicum spp.). ==================================================================== Bob Batson L 39 12 14 N 94 33 16 W bob@sky.net Kansas City TCS - Mystic Fire Priest USDA zone 5b ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Under the most controlled conditions, the experimental apparatus will do exactly as it pleases.