The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-07-13
FRUIT POLLlNATION.
Summary of Conclusions Reached
ut the Cornell station.

Scarcely one fruit blossom in ten sets
fruit, even in the most favorable sea-
sons and with the most productive va
rieties.
Trees making very vigorous growth
may drop their blossoms.
Brown rot apple or pear scab and
pear blight may kill the blossoms.
Frost injury to blossoms is OF all d.
grees. Even flowers which appear to
be uninjured may be SO weakened that
they cannot set fruit.
Rain during the blooming season pre-
vents the setting OF the fruit chiefly by
destroying the vitality of the pollcu,
njurins the stigma or by preventing
Fertilization because Of the low temper
ature. The washing of pollen from the
anthers seldom causes serious loss.
Much of the unsatisfactory fruiting
of orchards all over the country is due
to self sterility. a tree is self sterile If
it cannot set fruit unless planted near
other varieties.
The main cause of self sterility IS the
Inability of the pollen Of a variety to
fertillze the pistils Of that variety.
Poor stamens and pistls or the pre-
mature ripening of either is but q mi
nor cause of self sterility.
An indication of self sterillty is the
continued dropping of young fruit
from isolated trees or solid blocks OF
one variety.
Self sterility Is not constant charac-
ter with any variety. The same variety
may be self sterile In one place and
nearly self sterile in another.
Poorly nourished trees are more like
ly to be sterile with their own pollen
than we'll fed trees are.
The loss Of fruit from self sterility
usually may be prevented by planting
other varieties among the self sterile
trees.
The European and oriental pears can
fertilize each other, and many varieties
of the domestica, japanese and native
plums are likewise interfertile provld-
ed they bloom together.
The pollen of some varieties will give
larger fruit than that of others when it
falls on or is applied to the pistils of ell
ther self sterile or self fertile varieties.
Among our common orchard fruits
cross pollination seldom has an imme-
diate influence on the fruit itself.
Cross pollination probably gives bet
ter results than self pollination with
nearly all varieties.
1t is advisable and practicable to
plant all varieties of orchard fruits, be
they self sterile or self fertile, with ref
erence to cross pollination.
Insects are probably more important
than wind for carrying pollen from tree
to tree
Final ggestions.-When setting out
new orchards, do not plant a solid
block of each variety, but mix them
intelligently. If established orchards
are unfruitful because Of self sterility,
1t may be profitable to put few CRAFTS
of another variety In each tree. Keep
fruit trees well nourished, but do not
stimulate them to an overvigorous
growth.-S. w. Fletcher.
There are lots Of things in an agri.
4 cultural way which are very nice and
all that, but which are beyond the
reach of the common everyday farmer
and so are not practical From our
standpoint the most helpful and use.
full agricultural reading matter is that
which is suited to the average man
working with limited means and short
help. For him to find out an easier
away in which to do hard job or a
way whereby he may be able to raise
little better crop or sell what he does
raise for little more money or rid
himself Of some pest and hindrance in
his farm work is to help him in a prac-
teal manner. This is why common.
place things are treated in com
monplace way by the writer in these
notes.