Plant Physiology, Theoretic and Applied. 343 



flowers are called "Entomophilous" or "Insect-fertilized," and are commonly 

 rendered noticeable by high coloration of floral envelopes, large nectar-glands, or 

 strong scents. These scents are not always agreeable to us, but they are to some 

 insect. In our common figwort, the scent is so villainous that fertilization 

 seems to be dependent upon blow and carrion flies. I have not time to dwell 

 upon the many marvelous means of accomplishing cross-fertilization, sucli as 

 the difference in time between the ripening of the pollen in some flowers, and 

 the readiness of the stigma to receive the pollen ; or the lengthening of stamens 

 and shortening of styles, or shortening of stamens and lengthening of styles 

 in order to accomplish the same end in many flowers ; of the wonderful means 

 used by others, notably the milkweeds and orchids, absolutely to prevent self- 

 fertilization — but proceed at once to the consideration of means to secure per- 

 fect seeds and luscious fruits. It is a well-known fact tliat where too much 

 of the food materials in the plant are used up in the production of new 

 vegetation portions, such as roots, stems, branches, and leaves, that the seed-- 

 bearing capacity will be largely reduced or poor, while even the perfection of 

 the seed coat, or fruit, will be interferred with. Many causes for poor seed 

 and fruit formation may be mentioned, sucli as too fertile soil, too mucli water 

 when the young fruit is forming, too much manure, lack of good strong pollen 

 producers near those of weak pollen, incessant rains at time of pollination, 

 lack of insects to aid in pollination, and lastly, when none of these diSiculties 

 are present, an obstinate refusal on the part of the tree to bear fruit. Let 

 us look at a few of these. 



Where ground is too fertile, either naturally or through the excessive 

 addition of fertilizers, the leaves and stems are urged to make up and get rid 

 of as much of this crude material as possible and to accomplish this, abundant 

 leaves are put out, all the shoots are leaf shoots, and the slower forming fruit 

 buds are passed over. 



Where too much water is present at the period of flowering, or even of 

 early fruit formation, the attempt of the tree is to get rid of flowers and 

 fruit, and use its surplus energies in shoot and leaf formation. I have often 

 beheld such an orchard dropping the vast majority of its fruit when too much 

 irrigation water was applied to it at this time. 



I have already shown the necessity for cross-fertilization, but many think 

 it sufl3cient if the pollen from one tree be carried to anotlier, even if tliey be 

 pf the same variety. This is not the case — to insure good fruit, some pollen 

 from a different variety sliould be applied. Do not therefore plant a whole 

 plantation of one variety of fruit only, no matter how valuable. Others rec- 

 ognize the importance of cross-fertilization but think it will be accomplished 

 if they plant thousands of trees in one block, and t-ousands more in another 

 adjoining block. I would like to ask, what probability is there that bees will 

 carry the pollen from trees a quarter of a mile distant to those you may wish 

 pollinated, when hundreds of other trees occupy the intermediate spaces ? Plant 

 your different varieties near one anotlier, if you wish good pollination. Pre- 

 vention of good pollination througli severe and continuous rain at the time 

 the flowers are expanding, as well as the greater part of the injury at this 

 time by frosts, is beyond our control. I may add, however, that where the 

 frosts are not too severe, or rather when it does not actually freeze, many a 

 crop of fruit has been partially or entirely saved by "smudges" maintained 

 all night long. 



Faulty pollination through the lack of insects which accomplish this end- 

 can be often corrected by care and study. A gentleman of my acquaintance 

 wished to raise clover and sell seed where no bumble bees were to be found. 

 Now it is very well known that the production of seeu in red clover is almost 

 altogether dependent upon fertilization by bumble bees. So he shipped in a 

 lot of them, and after that time had no trouble in getting seed from his clover. 

 I need but instance further the wonderful results which are being accomplished 

 in California in fig culture, by the introduction of the caprifying or fertilizing 

 insect from Asia to better the quality of their flgs. 



