The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-06-18

was held there by the gummy suit
stance on the pissil. L watched them
carefully and in a few minutes the
grains would open crack from end
to end and the substance of the IR-
terror would become absorbed into
the gum of the pistil. l could follow
it no further except to imagine its
material or possibly its spiritual SUBJ
stance to be conveyed through the
minute opening through the stem o
the pistil, there to give life TO the seed
to produce through more intricate and
delicate processes the stately and
magnificent tree of the orchard. Who
can imagine the wisdom required to
convey the life from one tree through
so many processes to another, and to
furnish it protection at every stage OF
it's journey. The pollen grains Of
different plants and trees vary in
size, color, and shape, some of the
smaller and low growing varieties
being so light as to float in the
atmosphere while others of a more
solid nature require the aid of bees
and insects to convey them from
flower to flower. l think it frequently
happens that cold and stormy weather
during the blooming period of fruit
prevents bees from flying, the result
being imperfect fruit in quantity and
flavor. Who has not noticed in an
apple one perfect seed while the
others were mere bulls, caused by
only one of the pistils receiving pollen.
1t is reasonable to suppose that the
more seeds that are perfectly fertiliz-
ed, the more pulp or apple will be
formed to ripen and perfect them.
Sugar and starch are furnished by the
leaves and sap, and abundance of
these are the part We are seeking to
perfect. The stamens in many plants
are 80 placed Immediately above the
pistils, that when their caps ale
opened the pollen by its weight falls
directly on the pistils. In the corn
the tassel furnishes the pollen, it is
carried to the silk by gravity. All
plants and trees furnish hundreds
of times more pollen than is necessary
for fertilization if it could be econ
omically used. Nature provides it in
case storms and accidents occur to
prevent its finding its proper place.
Most of the nut bearing trees furnish
pollen from catkins, the fruit being
borne OH the tips of the young shoots.
There is a number of these that do
not produce nuts, if grown farther
north than the latitude which is
congeniaI to them. They start and
grow the catkins, before the fruit buds
are advanced far enough to receive
the pollen, hence they receive none of
it and bear no fruit, while they grow
vigorously and endure the cold.
Some varieties of apples do the same
to some extent, but recover from it
when they grow older. These do al
ways better near other kinds. This is
particularly the case if the weather
should be warm and clear during
blooming time, so the bees have a
chance to cross fertiliZe them. 1t is
a well known fact among fruit raisers
that the Bartlett pear is not prOduc.
tive of itself but an abundant bearer
when in alternate rows with the
Seckel. Most of our berries having
many seeds have the pistils in some.
thing like a core which is perforated
with openings connecting the surface
with the embryo seed. In some the
stamens are entirely lacking. These
require another variety to furnish
pollen, and it is always the case they
are more productive of fruit thar
those that furnish the pollen, because
the plant has stored with the previous
seasons growth the material to grow
the pollen. This consumes so much o
its vitality that it does not keep pace
: with its pistilate neighbor who hal
robbed it of half its strength anG
sowed all its own to furnish its great
: er abundance of fruit. If tree o.
plant furnishes pollen it is more
susceptible of injury at its blooming
period than at any other because it IL
draw ing on its stOred-up substance o
last years growth to make thu
blossoms and pOllens and must alst
make an entire set of leaves before il
can store away any more strength
If canker worms eat off the newly
formed leaves there is not strength
enough to furnish new leaves unless
the season should be very favorable
we should combat all pests at thi
season with all possible endeavOrs.
would like to say to all planters o
/, trees, vines, or shrubs, the subject o
"polleniZationn should not be over
looked. l have had recently severa
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