324 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



October 14, 1911. 



/.V-^' 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



THliJ FRUITING 



OF A 'MALE' 

 TREE. 



NUTMEG 



The following interesting note has been received 

 from Mr. J. C. Moore, Agricultural Superintendent of 

 St. Lucia: — 



One of the staminate nutmeg tree.s at the Botanic 

 Gardens in St Lucia has produced a single fruit. On examin- 

 ation, the fiait appeared to be quite normal in development, 

 the seed being of the usual size and containing an embryo, 

 and surrounded on the outside by the usual scarlet aril, or 

 mace. The tree has never been observed to liear fruit before, 

 and frequent search for flowers showing abnormal structure, 

 and for any indications of a tendency to develop other fruits, 

 has given negative results. The tree is about twenty years old. 

 This is the first instance of a staminate nutmeg tree bearing 

 fruit that has come under my observation, and it would be 

 interesting to know if there is any record of similar observa- 

 tions elsewhere. 



TRIALS OP THE COOO-DE-MER IN 

 THE WEST INDIES. 



In July 11)08, three germinating nuls, in each case, of 

 the double cocoa-nut or coco-de nier {Lodoicea sechdlarum) 

 were distributed by the Imperial Department of Agriculture 

 to the Agricultural Departments in )St. Lucia, Dominica, 

 St. Vincent, and Grenada. Since that time, reports as to the 

 progress of the trials have been received from the .Agricul- 

 tuial Departnn nts in the different islands, and the infornia 

 tion available is recorded here as it may be of interest to 

 readers of the A;/ric7iltural A'eirs. 



In St. Lucia, the trials resulted in failure, and none of 

 the plants have survived. 



The best results have been obtained at the Jiotanic 

 Gardens in Dominica, where two of the three germinating 

 nuts are reiinrtcd to be making good growth. In sending 

 the informal ion, the Curator of the Botanic Station states 

 that with cure and attention the trial is likely to be success- 

 ful. At the time of writing, each plant jjcssessed one fully 

 developed k:if imd the second leaf was appearing in each 

 case. 



The experience in St. Vincent has bern similar to that 

 in St. Lucia, and no plants have been raised. 



In Grenada only one plant lias survived, the others 

 having died shortly after being planted out. This specimen 



is not healthy and only possesses two leaves, while another 

 leaf which has just appeared seems to be somewhat 

 dwarfed. In making the report, the Superintendent of 

 Agriculture gives it as his opinion that the conditions at the 

 Grenada Botanic Gardens are too dry for tlie plant. 



A NEW METHOD OP HANDLING 



POLLEN. 



This is desciibed by a writer in the Aniericcai 

 Breeders Magazine, Vol. II, p. .52, and is as follows :— 



In the spring of 1908, having large numbers of apple, 

 peach, plum and other blossoms lo cross and self-pollinate, 

 I was greatly hindered and suffered many losses by the fail- 

 ure to have sufficient pollen at hand at the critical period. 

 The usual method of collecting a fresh supply at each opera- 

 tion was very slow and clumsy. After trying every possible 

 way of collecting and itreserving pollen 1 accidentally found 

 a very simple method, which during three seasons has proved 

 almost ideal. 



Emjity (juinine capsules .seem to meet the requirements, 

 under almost all circumstances, for gathering and storing 

 pollen, and they are convenient to use. These capsules can 

 be obtained at all drug stores at a very .slight cost. In most 

 cases the smaller sizes will do. Anthers of the desired female 

 parent are selected as near the bursting ))oint as possible, and 

 scarped or cut into a capsule. The capsule can then be lettered 

 or numbered with Indian ink, or a small .slip of pajier may be 

 in.sertcd with a note as a record. These cap.sules can be thrown 

 loosely into a small box, or arranged to suit personal taste. 

 In a few hours the anthers in the capside will burst, and 

 a shake will scatter the pollen, which will adhere uni- 

 formly over the gelatine walls inside the capsule, where it 

 can be transferred to the stigma with the usual brush or thin- 

 bladed knife. I have found a knife the better tool, as an abun- 

 dance of pollen can be gathered on its point for transference, 

 and it is instantly cleaned. Pollen can thus be very quickly 

 applied to Howers having pistils of a suitable size, such as 

 peach, plum, etc. 



Pollen in these capsules is a\ailable at a moment's notice, 

 regardless of outside conditions. A large supply is on hand, 

 and in compact shape. A capsule once filled will often last 

 the entire sea.son. The length of time that pollen will retain 

 its vitality when so enclosed is surprising. These capsules 



