EXT'KRIMEJSTT STATION WORK WITH AIM'LES. 541 



Lahoiatorv investigations at the New York State Station** showed 

 that any of the ordinary insecticides or fungicides prevent the germi- 

 nation of pollen on the stigniatic surface of the pistil if applied before 

 the pollen reaches the pistil. In the orchard spraying mixtures largely 

 pi'cvented the pollination of the freshly opened ])l()ssoms and the set- 

 ting of fruit. In some cases the spraying mixtures hud a decisive 

 corrosive eti'ect on the tissues of the stamens and pistils. Blossoms 

 which had been open several days before spraying were not seriously 

 injured by spraying mixtures, the fruit setting in abundance. The 

 yield of a number of Aarieties from spraying in bloom was slightly 

 diminished, but the total marketable fruit was in nowise diminished. 

 On the whole, there was no apparent injury as regards the resulting 

 fruit cro]) in spraying orchards in full bloom. Fletcher'^ has shown 

 that under normal conditions only about one blossom in ten sets fruit, 

 even in the most favoiable season and with the most productive varie- 

 ties, so that many of the blossoms that open might be killed In' spray- 

 ing or otherwise and still a full crop of fruit l)e secured. 



SEIiF-STERILITY IN APPLES. 



According to S. W. Fletcher," orchard fruits can not be separated 

 into self-sterile and self-fertile varieties, since self-sterility is not a 

 constant character. Some varieties which are self-sterile under one 

 condition may be self-fertile under another. A number of the stations 

 have made observations on the self-sterility or self-fertility of apples. 

 Work at the Delaware Station'' during two seasons indicates that prac- 

 tically all the more important varieties grown on the Chesapeake pen- 

 insula are probably self-sterile. July and Bough, both of little com- 

 mercial importance, were the only varieties that set any considerable 

 amount of fruit when self-pollinated. Astrakhan, Farly Harvest, and 

 Yellow Transparent were more or less self-fertile and, under favorable 

 conditions, might produce crops. The varieties that were found self- 

 sterile, or nearly so, were Early Kipe, English Russet, Fanny, (xilpin, 

 (Iravenstein. Grimes, I^ily of Kent, Missouri Pippin, Nero. Paragon, 

 Red Streak. Stark. Stamen, Strawberry, William Favorite, and ^^'ine- 

 sap. The self-fertile kinds were contined almost ('xclusi\ely to sum- 

 mer sorts. (lilpin. a winter sort, set a few fruits, but they dropped 

 as the season advanced. 



At the Vermont Station'' the following varieties were found to be 

 .self -sterile: Rhode Island (rreening. Ben Davis. Ilawley. King. North- 

 ern. Northern Spy, Porter, Red Astrakhan. Red Kennedy, Roseau, Rox- 

 buiv Russet. Tolman Sweet, Wealthy, Westtield (Seek-no-further), and 

 William Favorite. The varieties Baldwin, Esopus, and Fameuse were 



"New York State Sta. Bnl. 19H. (^ Delaware 8ta. Rpt. 19()1, ]>. 83. 



ft New York Cornell SUi. Kill. IKI. '/ Vermont 8ta. Rpt. 19CM), p. H62. 



