label

Labeling Individual Blossoms With Elastic Cord & Colored Beads

Author

Douglas Sutton

Goal

Establishing an accurate labeling / coding system to identify individual blossoms. With an established code each crossing can be documented and read accurately in the field with out a key.

Introduction

Cross-pollinating flowers is time consuming and the flower is delicate. The less it is manipulated the greater chance there will be no damage to the flower. When it is time to cross flowers, anything that can assist or improve timing, dexterity labeling, and speed is a benefit. Having a light weight label on the developing fruit has numerous benefits. Having a label that will flex as the fruit and surrounding tissues develop is essential.

Materials Used

Elastic cord. (Fabric covered cords can be found in fabric stores, bare cords can be found in good tackle shops)

Colored  Glass "Seed Beads"

Scissors or Nail Clippers

Tweezers and / or Forceps

Dowels or Screws (to place completed numbered loops)

Acknowledgments & Explanations

I am not the first to use colors to represent numbers. I went on the assumption that many cultures have encountered this before and, I set out to copy an established system or code. I did not find anything so, I set up my own system. Soon afterward a friend of mine told me about the Resistor Color Code Guide. I have looked at this code sequence. It would be acceptable however, I am sticking with my coding for the simple fact that I am comfortable with the system.

I will defend my methods and motives:

Darkness comes before light.

Now, pattern from the color spectrum (rainbow): red orange yellow green blue.

Red green & blue can support contrasting colors (dark red / light red) but,  orange and yellow are too subtle a color to identify.

0 black

1 white

2 red (Dark)

3 red (light)

4 orange

5 yellow

6 green (Dark)

7 green (light)

8 blue (Dark)

9 blue (light)

Preparation of the Numbered Loops

This would represent 092 (or 290 but I read them from the opposite end)

Try putting a silver bead closest to the open end to keep things orientated.

There is some time involved to master the technique but, speed can come with practice.

 I am currently using a numbered code but, a color could be used to represent anything.

I do use the color brown to indicate a self pollinated flower. This came about when I set out to isolate individual blossoms using tea bags.

I can get cheap tea for $1.00 for 50 bags.

I cut off the string and tab then I cut the bag open and discard the contents. (They go on the blueberries to acidify the soil.)

The loop for the tea bags is done by threading a bunch of beads down a long strand of two elastic chords. I knot off each section and pull one bead through each "loop". This task can be done indoors when time is not as valuable. When I set down to work I can bag many flowers in a short amount of time. This ability to work swiftly in the field is even more valuable when I am cross pollinating. I have the numbered "loops all prepared and ready to go. I set them up on long wood screws or on a dowel in batches of ten. When I work I try to do ten in one sitting. I make a few notes and it still gives me enough freedom to have fun.

Follow-up Comments

I would welcome any additional information regarding other known color coding system that represents numbers. Also, I welcome correspondence with others who find this interesting and / or want to share their own techniques.

This is an interesting genetic puzzle I have been playing with:

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