Evening star., 1928-04-14
Protect the Bees.


The honcybee is deserving frienC
Of the fruit grower because of its great
activity in pollinating flowers. There
fore no fruit tree should be sprayed
with poisons such as arsenate Of lead
paris green or calcium arSenate while
in bloom. EntomologistS wisely recon-
mend that the important petal-fan ol
Calvx spray for the codling moth worms
and other pests be delayed untN al
least nineteenth of the petals have
fallen. Massachusetts, investigators
found that the addition of tobacco eX-
tracts. such as Black Leaf 40. tended
80 repel bees and other beneficial in
ScctS. Tobacco extracts are sold In a
highly concentrated form, so that two
teaspoons TO each gallon of water oI
spray liquid is an adequate proportion
There is no real need Of spraying
during the period Of hloSSoming, since
records show that a period OF week
10 10 days usually elapSeS between petal
fall and the time that the calyx. the
favorite entrance point for the codling
worm. closes. The petal-fall spray for
apples, cherries and plumS should con-
SiSt Of / quart OF concentrated lime
Surphur and : ounces of powdered ar
senate of lead III 10 gallons of water.
The gardener who is preparing sprays
should never guess at quantities. Over
doses may easily kill the vegetation and
small doses DO not fulfill the purpose.
Sterile Blossoms.
The number of ornamental trees,
shrubs and flowers that bloom bril-
liantly in the Springtime, yet fail TO sci
any seed or fruit, is rather astounding
90 80 S1flfnffnn
For example. the well known japanese
cherries that surround the Tidal Basin,
the masses Of forSythia about the Syl-
van Theater on the Monument Grounds
and at other places in the city parks
never set any fruits or seed pods. The
snowhalls. Viburnum opulus and Vibur-
mum tomentoSum, are other examples
Norticulturists have long since learned
Co propagate these sterile plants by
budding or cuttings. as the case may
be. making sterility matter OF little
Importance in ornamentals,
With fruit trees, however, the sitla-
ton is reversed. the fruit Is the princl-
pal purpose for which the plant Is
grown. Nevertheless. sterility is very
common in many fruits. in the apple,
pear, cherry. plum and grape. Inc
production of blossoms with apparently
normal piStils and stamens is no proof
that fruit will follow. Without queS-
ton. the problem directly concerns the
home gardener. for probably If the facts
were known there are great many
fruit trees scattered about the SUBURBS
Of Washington which are bearing little
or no fruit due TO sterility OF the
flowers. Tracing under the microscope
the growth Of the pollen tube which
arises from the terminating pollen
grain. scientists have found that in the
flowers Of many fruit varieties their
own pollen grows much more slowly
than that from other varieties and IN
many cases never does reach its deSti-
nation. the ovary This provision of
Nature designed TO insure cross polllna-
ton causes lots Of trouble TO fruit
growers Fortunately. the subject is
now pretty well understood by horticul-
turists and If any one is in doubt about
the advisabiiity Of planting certain
varieties he can secure the necessary
information for the asking from either
the United States Department Of Agri-
culture or the University of Maryland
at College Park Fruit growers care
fully plan the variety makeup of their
orchards. There is no reason why
home gardeners should not benetit
from the same knowledge.