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THE PIvANT WORLD 



45 feet in circumference, a spathe 3 feet in diameter, and a spadix 6 feet 

 high. This botanical marvel was flowered in the Kew Gardens, England, 

 in 1890. 



Farm Crops. — The enormous value of farm crops in the United States 

 is shown by the following table which has been compiled from Census 

 Reports. The year covered is 1899 : 



Pollination of Apple Blossoms. — Certain varieties of apples have long 

 been known as " shy bearers," but the causes for this condition have not 

 been well understood. In investigating this subject Mr. G. O. Greene 

 has ascertained quite definitely what was before supposed, namely, that 

 the pollen in certain varieties is not potent in its own pistils, some being 

 almost sterile when fertilized with their own pollen. And further it was 

 noted that even when a self-pollinated variety set fruits they were of 

 inferior size and exhibited a greater tendency to fall early than when 

 crossed. All goes to show that in setting orchards it may be necessary 

 to select varieties that experience has shown will mutually cross-pollinate. 



Date Palms. — While it will not be possible for many people in this 

 country to raise their own dates, it may interest some to learn that there 

 is a date palm orchard in Arizona, comprising about 600 trees, which 

 were obtained from the Sahara, Egypt, Arabia, and Beluchistan. A few 

 of these trees fruited during the past year. 



The Tree Peony. — The so-called tree peony {^PcBonia Motdati) is in 

 reality only a much-branched shrub growing from three to six feet in 

 height, and bearing a profusion of single or very double and variously- 

 colored flowers. It is a native of China, where it has been in cultivation 

 for centuries, and as a consequence its varieties are numbered by hundreds. 



