30 INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF PREMATURE POLLINATION. 



Experiment IS. — (Comparq with experiments 3, 4, and 7 and contrast with 6, 12, 

 and 14.) March 19, 10.30 a. m. Ten flower buds on the same variety, and in all 

 respects similar to those of experiment 12, were decapitated and bagged without 

 pollination, to be pollinated with pollen of Lorillard when the stigmas become 

 receptive. 



March 27, 9.30 a. m. These 10 flowers were pollinated with fresh pollen of Loril- 

 lard. The stigmas appeared receptive when viewed through a hand lens and the 

 pollen adhered readily to them. 



April 3. An examination of a few of these flowers showed that some small 

 tomatoes were forming, but their development was not sufficiently advanced to deter- 

 mine results. 



May 9. Six good, large fruits were found growing. 



Results of the experiment : Six good, large fruits. 



Experiment 14.— (Compare with experiment 12 and contrast with 13.) March 19, 

 12 m. This experiment is a repetition of experiment 12, except that the pollen used 

 was from different flowers of the same variety instead of from those of the Lorillard 

 variety. 



March 27, 11 a. m. The flowers were again pollinated with fresh pollen from dif- 

 ferent flowers of the the same variety. One of the 10 was found fallen and another, 

 which was of a yellowish color, about ready to fall. 



Results of the experiment: May 9, seven good fruits. 



Experiment 15 was planned to be a repetition of experiments 7 and 

 9 and to contrast with experiment 14, in order to determine whether 

 the flowers are injured by premature pollination. However, when 

 these flowers were receptive and were being pollinated, it was discov- 

 ered that some of them had become injured in some way after being 

 emasculated, while others could not be found, thus making it necessary 

 to give up experiment 15. 



A comparison of experiment 14 with experiments 7 and 9 suggests 

 that early pollination has no detrimental effect upon the pistils, but 

 as experiments 7 and 9 were performed at a different time and pollen 

 from a different variety was used, the conditions are not similar enough 

 to warrant such a conclusion. In order to get more conclusive proof 

 that premature pollination does not injure the young pistils and pre- 

 vent them from performing their functions when they become mature, 

 experiments 16 and 17 were performed. 



Experiment 16.— (Compare -with experiments 12 and 14 and contrast with 13.) 

 April 3, 2 p. m. Ten young blossom buds of the Lorillard variety were decapitated 

 and immediately pollinated with fresh pollen of Livingston Potato Leaf. When the 

 pistils have become mature, as indicated by other flowers of the same age to-day, 

 labeled to show the rapidity of development, these 10 flowers are to be again polli- 

 nated with fresh pollen of Livingston Potato Leaf. 



April 11, 9 a. m. The 10 blossoms were again pollinated with fresh pollen of Liv- 

 ingston Potato Leaf. The flowers were fresh with decapitated calyx and corolla 

 lobes reflexed and the pistils apparently receptive, although still bearing the pollen 

 of the first pollination. 



May 9. Nine good, large fruits were found developing. 



Results of the experiment: Nine good, large fruits. 



Experiment 17.— (Compare with experiments 7, 9, and 13 and contrast with 12, 14, 

 and 16. ) April 3, 3 p. m. Ten young flower buds on the same plants and in all 



