The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-08-15
Fruitino ImperfectIy Done.
Prof. II. e. Van Deman.


their own flowers This is often the
cause of failure. to bear abundantly and
in some cases the fruit may be abund-
ant enough but lacking in develop
ment.
The comparative sterility of the
Wild Goose plum is well known by
those who have been growing it with
out near proximity of some other va
riety having flowers that would pollen
ate it. This was the first of our COM
mon fruits that drew special attention
to this subject. 1t was found that
without the presence and influence of
other pollen very little fruit set and
matured, and wherever there were
other plum trees of our native species
blooming at the same time there was
almost sure to be a good crop OF Wild
Goose, provided other conditions were
favorable. Experiments and obserVa-
lions have proved that some varieties
were much better pollenizers than
others, and of these Newman seems to
be one of the best.
The Bartlett and Kieffer pears are
far from satisfactory when planted
alone, especially in large blocks. They
are both in a measure self-sterlle,
their pollen not being nearly so pot
ent upon their own flowers as it
should be. and, consequently the fruit
is correspondingly scarce and lacking
in development Where the Anjou,
Sekel and some other varieties are
planted near the trees of the Bartlett
they are usually very fruitful and the
pears have perfect seeds and attain
their normal size and shape. They
also taste better than those that have
not been properly pollenated when
in bloom and consequently could not
attain their normal development.
The Kieffer behaves in a like man
ner, only that it seems to be even less
fruitful when the trees are situated
so that their flowers cannot be af-
fected by the pollen of other varieties
that bloom at the same time. The
CARRIER is an excellent pollenlZer Tor
the Kieffer, and trees scattered
through an orchard of it will have
marked effect on the fruitfulness. Set
ting a few CRAFTS of CARRIER in the tops
of Kieffer trees here and there Will
have the same effect.
The Winesap apple is not so strong
in it's pollen as it should be, and there
are some complaints of lack of fruit
fulness in large orchards of this va
riety, although it often overbears. Elk
periments in pollenating the flower oil
Winesap with it's own pollen and that
of the Stayman and other seedlings
of that type separately and by cross
ing, have proved that all of them are
weak in this respect. There are other
varieties that produce pollen that is
potent on the Winesap and it's seed
lings, of which York Imperial and
Ben Davis are among the best. Those
who are troubled with lack of fruit
fulness of the Winesap and others OF
the same type, under certain condi-
lions, might do well to plant or graft
in York Imperial or Ben Davis, to
furnish better pollen.
There are varieties ofthe strawberry,
grape, fig, orange and many other
fruits that require the aid of cross
pollination to insure perfect fruitage,
as we all know, or ought to know.
The entire subject is in rather crude
state as regards positive information,
but the little that we do know should
be put into practice.
The American apple growers con-
gress has recommended the adoption
of box for apple packages with di-
mansions 111Rx11Rx20 inches inside