INDIAISTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 411 



But when this question of cross pollination began to awaken attention 

 about ten years ago it furnished a probable solution of all these puzzling 

 questions. The absence of other varieties near the trees that failed to 

 fruit explained those cases, while if the pollen was distributed by a strong 

 wind there would be a reason why it should take effect upon the windward 

 side of the tree and fail to reach the leeward or the center. If bees or 

 insects distributed they would be more impartial, or a change of wind 

 might bring pollen from another tree to the other side. 



We do not remember which was the first to publiclj'' publish literature 

 upon this subject, Professor Bailey, of Cornell Experiment Station, New 

 York, who^ devoted his study of it mostly to plums, or M. B. Waite, of the 

 Agi'icultural Department at Washington, who studied pears more, and 

 apples to some extent, but we think the theory had been advanced by a 

 few of the leading horticulturists before either of them published anything 

 on the matter, and with them it was rather a theory than a proven fact. 



Since that time many have devoted themselves to studying these con- 

 ditions, not only regard to plums, pears and apples, but to many other 

 of our orchard fruits, and they have prepared lists of such varieties as are 

 adapted for cross pollination or fertilization of blossoms, and much other 

 information upon the subject that is likely to prove valuable to those who 

 have planted orchards, or intend to do so. The list is too long, and yet 

 not sufficiently complete for publication in a newspaper article at this 

 time, but one or two general rules may serve as a guide. It is of the first 

 importance that the t^o varieties selected for cross pollination should be 

 in bloom at the same time. This is most especially necessary in those 

 which retain their blossoms but a short time, as the plums, and with the 

 apples there may be a variation of a few days, as the blossoms remain 

 much longer. 



It is also beginning to be realized that some, if not all, are better pol- 

 linated by varieties that are closely related; as one by another that is a 

 seedling of it, and. that, as in grafting, if the characteristics of the fruit 

 are to be retained in the entirety, the stock sliould not vary in character 

 from the graft, as the tree selected to furnish pollen for the blossoms of 

 another should not vary much in its general character from the other. 



Naturally, from this it follows that the character of the fruit may be 

 modified by the pollen of the tree that stands near it, as some are by the 

 stock the scion is set in. It may be made earlier or later, a better keeper, 

 larger or smaller, more or less sour, according to the character of the fruit 

 whose blossom furnishes the pollen. There is a chance for much study 

 in this matter before a full knowledge of the subject can be gained, and 

 private orchardists should investigate the matter and give the result of 

 what they can learn by observing results where they have two or more 

 varieties near together, and perhaps those who have but a few trees for 

 a home supply of fruit may be able to do more than those who have larger 

 orchards with less varieties or greater distance between the different 

 varieties. 



