PLAXTS AXI) IXSKCTS 



101 



"\Vaite lias conducted experiments in the cross-fertili- 

 zation of pears and apples for several years, liy placing 

 sacks over the buds to prevent the introduction of foreign 

 pollen, by removing the stamens before ripe and polli- 



_ 



FIG. 79. Seeds from en>"ci] 

 and from self-pollinated Bart- 

 lett pears : a, from crossed 

 pears; b, from self-pollinated 

 pears. (After Waite.) 



natiiiii' the pistils with 

 pollen from other va- 

 rieties. The actions 

 of insects towards the 

 blossoms were al~" 

 noted. His conclu- 

 sions in part are: 

 Some of the common 

 varieties of pears re- 

 quire cross-fertiliza- 

 tion; some varieties are capable of self-fertilization; 

 pollen is transported from tree to tree bv bees and other 

 insects and not bv the wind; bad weather keeps away 

 insect visitors and hence materially affects the fruit 

 yield; self-fecundated pears are deficient in seeds, and 



FIG. 80. Self-pollinated Bartlett pear. 



