The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-04-26
Mixed Planting of Fruit Trees.

DlantoQ separately OF mIASu " get U0SC
results?
Prof. Burrill-I do not know. There
are quite a number of facts i'll favor
0f mixing them. 1t has been we'll prov
ed that some varieties Of pears do a
great deal better when so planted. But
7 do not know of facts that prove the
same in regard to the apple. Some
times the branch on the eastern side
of a tree will bear we'll for year or
two and the branches on the other sloe
Of the tree be barren. The inference
has been that the pollen had been car
ried by the east wind from the tree to
the east; but, after all, that is only
guess. A few years ago there used to
be things talked of in our horticultural
meetings that appear not to be well
settled How frequently it happens
that tree blossoms we'll, sets it's fruit
we'll. but often drops it. Now, this
would occur if the pollen fertilization
were not full enough. But whether
that dropping is really caused by that
is a thing we have not been able 10
tell. [ think it is an important ques-
ton, but can't give the information
desired.
Off you were to plant an orchard
Of fifty acres, and were to plant but
two varieties, and were going to put
them in two separate fields Of twenty
five acres each, and suppose the varle-
ties were the Missouri Pippin and the
Ben Davis, and supposing your fields
were two miles apart, would you plant
one variety in one field or would you
mix them?
Prof. Burrill-I think I would want
to be on the safe side and put some
of each in each field; though mixing
them would make some difference
when I came to gather the apples, for
mixed apples are harder to gather, as
they have to be kept separate. the
ample bloom is fertilized both by the
pollen carried by the wind and by IN
sects; when weather is fine it is largely
by insects. Now, these insects may
carry pollen farther than we some
times think; and yet l would rather
have the two varieties in adjoining
rows.
Owe sometimes find an apple that
has set and grown to maturity anu
vet has no seed at all; could such an
apple have been properly fertilized?
Professor Burrill-Yes, sir; there are
some apples that are entirely seedless'
suppose, however, that there is
enough pollen to fertilize the seed, but
that the latter has been injured IN
some way, and does not develop. l
also think, as a general thing, that ap-
pies will not grow without being Ter
tilted; but I do not say that some
varieties might not get into the habit
of developing fruit without seed.
l.. H. Read-I raised a squash this
year that grew to maturity and was
of good quality for cooking, and yet It
had no seeds in it.
Mr.. Johnson have tried the ex-
pertinent of mixing trees. | have an
orchard composed of Maiden Blush,
Ben Davis and Jonathan. l have an
other that is made up of odds ana
ends, and there may be in that orcnaro
a hundred varieties, hardly more than
two of a kind. Then have an orchard
that is wholly Ben Davis. l think
that l have not gained anything by
mixing the trees, but have rather lost.
The orchard of mixed trees do not
bear any better than the other or
chards, and do not sell as we'll. De-
lieye that apples are sufficiently self
fertilizing.
c. G. Winn-This year / ran across
a seeding that was one-fourth oil
mile from any other tree. 1t was on
hill, and it's apples were as red as ap-
pies could be. l used to think tnat
they would fertilize better by being
mixed. but now l think that | do not
know.
Mr.. Riehl-I do not believe that the
apple needs cross fertilization, but l
believe that the pear does.
H. Augustine-And so does the plum.
Mr.. Riehl-I will not say as to the
plum, but know the pear does. AS to
apples, the cross-fertilizing has been
tried for long years and has been
found of no value. That cross-fertil-
izing does affect the pear is abundantly
demonstrated by the history OF the
seedless pears. From time to time
nurseries have set out pears that were
said to produce seedless fruits. And
they did when first set out. Especially
did they bear seedless fruit if they
were set out by themselves. But II
they were set out near other pear trees
IN few years they began to bear
seedy fruit, the result of cross fertlll-