28 INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF PREMATURE POLLINATION. 



Experiment 6.— (Compare with experiments 1, 2, and 8 and contrast with 7.) 

 March 11, 10 a. m. Ten flowers of the Lorillard variety were decapitated and the 

 stamens entirely removed. The blossoms were then immediately pollinated with 

 fresh pollen of Atlantic Prize. 



April 3. Eight of these 10 flowers have fallen loose at the base of the stem, and the 

 flowers are black and shriveled, while the other 2 are still attached by strong fleshy 

 stems. The ovaries, though not enlarged, are plump and green, like tiny tomatoes. 



June 10. Two small ripe tomatoes gathered and found to contain 8 seeds each. 



Results of the experiment: Two small ripe tomatoes. 



This experiment differs from experiments 1 and 2 only in that the flowers were 

 emasculated rather than simply decapitated. 



Experiment 7.— (Compare with experiments 3 and 4 and contrast with 6 and 8.) 

 March 11, 11a. m. Ten flowers of the same variety and in every particular similar 

 to those of experiment 6 were decapitated and the stamens entirely removed and 

 the flowers bagged to be pollinated when the pistils become receptive as indicated 

 by other flowers of the same age to-day, labeled to show the rapidity of development. 



March 16, 2 p. m. These 10 blossoms were pollinated with fresh pollen of Atlantic 

 Prize. 



April 3. The above 10 blossoms examined and 8 good green tomatoes found 

 developing, 1 flower having fallen while the other was still attached by a strong 

 fleshy stem, but the small green ovary was undeveloped. 



Results of the experiment: Eight good tomatoes. 



Experiments.— (Compare with experiments 1, 2, and 6 and contrast with 3, 4, 7, 

 and 9.) March 11, 12 m. Ten young blossom buds on Suttons Best of All were 

 decapitated and the stamens entirely removed, and the stigmas covered immediately 

 with fresh pollen of Atlantic Prize. 



April 3. These 10 flowers examined and all found fallen loose at the base of the 

 stem and black and shriveled. 



Results of the experiment: No fruits. 



Experiment 9.— (Contrast with experiment 8.) March 11, 12.30 p. m. Ten blos- 

 som buds of the same variety, and in all respects similar to those of experiment 8, 

 were similarly treated in regard to emasculation and decapitation, but were bagged 

 without pollination. These 10 flowers are to be pollinated with fresh pollen of 

 Atlantic Prize when the pistils become receptive as indicated by other labeled 

 blossoms of the same age. 



March 16, 2.30 p. m. These 10 flowers were pollinated with fresh pollen of Atlan- 

 tic Prize, the decapitated petal lobes being reflexed, showing that the flowers would 

 have been fully opened had they been left unmolested. 



April 3. Ten good large tomatoes found developing. 



Results of the experiment: Ten large, well-formed tomatoes. 



It will be seen by contrasting experiments 8 and 9 that they differ 

 only in the time of the application of the pollen to the pistils. In 

 experiment 8 the pollen was applied to the immature pistils, while in 

 experiment 9 it was applied to mature pistils. 



It being noticed that several of the varieties in the greenhouse were 

 setting a few fruits, although there had been no opportunity for the 

 blossoms to become pollinated, the question naturally arose as to 

 whether tomatoes will set fruit if secluded from wind and insects, and 

 experiments 10 and 11 were undertaken in order to throw some light 

 on this point. 



Experiment 10.— March 16, 3 p. m. This experiment consisted simply in bagging 

 10 young blossom buds on the variety Livingston's Beauty. The blossom buds were 



