Pollination in Orchards. 



367 



76. — Catherine ; injured pistil. 



during the blooming season was ideal, bees were numerous, and some 

 of the flowers were even crossed by hand with the pollen of other 

 varieties. Since the variety had already shown itself so susceptible 

 to winter injury, it is probable that this wholesale failure was due 

 to the weakened vitality of the pistils, 

 which could not be seen with the eye 

 alone. 



Some of the imperfect development 

 of flowers which we attribute to winter 

 injury may be caused by unfavorable 

 conditions during the previous season, 

 when the buds were being formed ; yet 

 it seems likely that winter injury to 

 pistils is more common and more serious 



than appears at flrst siglit. These remarks on winter injury are 

 introduced simply to emphasize the fact that all blossoms which do 

 not set fruit are not self-sterile ; and also to promote a more careful 

 discrimination between the various causes wliich decrease the setting 

 of fruit. 



Rain May Injure Fruit Blossoms. 



The uiifruitfulness which often follows a rain during the bloom- 

 ing season is sometimes confused with self-sterility. A careful fruit- 

 grower watches the weather anxiously 

 when his trees are in blossom, for he 

 knows this is the most critical period in 

 the growth of the crop. Injury to fruit 

 blossoins from rain is common wherever 

 fruit is grown, but is particularly serious 

 along the Paciflc coast and near the shores 

 of the Great Lakes. It has been estimated 

 that more fruit is lost in California from 

 cold rains during blooming time than 

 from all other causes combined. Like winter injury to fruit buds, 

 there is no way of preventing this loss except to secure a most favor- 

 able location, since it is not in man's power to prevent rain, however 

 much he may be able to iDduco it by bombarding the sky, JS'ever 



77. — Catherine; normal 

 flower. 



