32 INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF PREMATURE POLLINATION. 



sulphate. The 10 blossoms were in good, fresh condition, with reflexed calyx and 

 corolla lobes and protruding pistils showing fresh receptive stigmas. 



May 9. One small green tomato found developing. Three of the flowers were 

 found with large green stems and calyxes, but failed to set fruit. The other 6 were 

 found fallen without having set fruit. 



Results of the experiment: < me ripe seedless tomato 1J inches in diameter. 



The results of this experiment gave additional proof that the seed- 

 less tomatoes previously found growing in the greenhouse had resulted 

 from flowers that had never been pollinated. Experiment 22 was an 

 exact repetition of experiment 20, but resulted in the falling of all the 

 flowers without setting fruit. 



It having been shown by experiments 12, 14, and 16 that the failure 

 to obtain fruits in experiments 1, 2, and 8 was not caused by the pres- 

 ence of the pollen on the immature pistils, it would seem to be due to 

 loss of vitality of the pollen before the pistils became receptive. To 

 test this point experiments 21 and 22 were performed. 



Experiment 21. — (Contrast with experiment 17.) May 9, 4 p. m. Ten blossom 

 buds of Sutton's Best of All were emasculated and bagged to be pollinated when the 

 pistils become mature with pollen of Lorillard collected to-day at 5.30 p. m. 



May 14, 1.30 p. m. These 10 flowers were to-day pollinated with pollen of Loril- 

 lard collected May 9 and placed in a watch-glass closely covered and kept in the green- 

 house near the tomato vines in order that it might be exposed to the same conditions 

 of temperature, etc., as the pollen placed upon the immature pistils in the previous 

 experiments. The decapitated sepals and petals of these flowers were reflexed and 

 the pistils had a good healthy appearance when pollinated. 



June 6. Eight of the flowers were found detached below the ovaries , which had 

 not enlarged after pollination. One flower set a fruit which attained a size of 2\ 

 inches in diameter and contained 22 seeds. The other flower could not be found. 



Results of the experiment: One fruit. 



The fact that experiments 6 and 21 produced 3 small fruits contain- 

 ing but few seeds shows that the pollen had not lost quite all its vital- 

 ity during the five days from the time it was collected till the pistils 

 on which it was placed became mature. 



Experiment „'.?.—( Contrast with experiment 16. ) May 9. Ten blossoms of Sutton's 

 Best of All were emasculated and at once pollinated with fresh pollen of Lorillard. 

 Some of the pollen was reserved for a second application to these flowers when the 

 pistils become mature. 



May 14, 2 p. in. The 10 flowers were pollinated with pollen of Lorillard collected 

 May 9 and kept in the greenhouse since that time. When pollinated the second 

 time all parts of the flowers were in a fresh, healthy condition, the stigmas showing 

 white from the application of pollen May 9. 



June 9. All of the flowers were found detached below their ovaries, which had not 

 enlarged since pollination. 



Results of the experiment: No fruits. 



Experiment 24. — (Compare with experiment 25 and contrast with 20 and 22.) 

 May 14, 3 p. m. Ten young blossom buds of Sutton's Best of All were emasculated 

 and bagged. These blossoms are never to be pollinated. 



June 6. All of the 10 blossoms were found fallen below the ovaries, which had not 

 enlarged. 



Results of the experiment: No fruits. 



