Tip of the day.

When emasculating blooms to prepare them for pollination, I recommend two things in particular:

1) Try not to handle the receptacle (ovary behind the petals) with your fingers, as the oil and bacteria on your hands can cause the developing hip to rot.

2) Leave at least one row of petals on the pollinated bloom when you are done. There is evidence that suggests you get a better rate of "take" when you leave some petals on the bloom while the pollen is settling onto the stigma.