First, artificial pollination should be performed before natural pollination by collecting pollen. Select flowers with strong compatibility; even ordinary varieties can be used to pollinate short-stemmed ones. During the flowering period of the bell (when the lotus root is to be preserved), remove the petals as soon as the flowers open, or directly rub two flowers together to transfer the pollen. After removing any impurities like petals, dry the pollen on a smooth sheet of paper in a well-ventilated room at 20-25°C, keeping the relative humidity between 60-80%. Usually, the anthers will crack naturally within 1-2 days, and the pollen can then be stored. At room temperature, the pollen remains viable for 7-12 days, while it can be stored for about a year if kept at 0-2°C. Artificial pollination can be done when the main variety is in bloom (with 25% of the flowers open), and multiple pollination sessions may be needed. Common methods include spot application, liquid spraying, dusting, and brushing. Tools like brushes or pencils can be used to apply pollen directly to the stigma. One inflorescence can receive 2-3 flowers, and up to 3-5 inflorescences can be pollinated. For liquid pollination, prepare a solution with 5 kg of water, 0.5 kg of sucrose, 5 g of boric acid, and 25 ml of pollen, mix into a suspension, and spray it onto the flowers during the blooming phase. When dusting, mix the pollen with 10-50 times more talc or fine melon powder as a diluent, then use a duster or a small sandbag tied to a pole to shake and spread the pollen over the canopy. When pollinating, follow the principle of "more on older trees, less on younger ones." Give more to young and middle-aged trees, fewer to weak ones, more to those with internal abortions, and less to the outer parts. Stronger branches get more, weaker ones less. More pollen is applied to edge flowers, and less to the center ones.