374 State Horticultural Society. 



plums. \\'ith these plums as with other fruits, self-sterility obtains only 

 in a relative degree. Under extremely favorable circumstances, with all 

 conditions just right, doubtless they might be able to set a considerable 

 number of fruits. 



The Kieffer pear, for instance, is commonly self-sterile, and re- 

 sponds beautifully to cross-pollination.. However, under favorable con- 

 ditions in certain seasons when the trees are well nourished and ex- 

 tremely favorable weather occurs during bloom they will set fairly large 

 crops of fruit under the influence of their own pollen. Under these 

 favorable conditions, however, where cross-pollination is possible, the 

 trees literally break themselves to pieces from overloading. 



The only safe way in planting out these plums, and in fact most of 

 the fruit trees, except peaches and perhaps quinces, is to assume self- 

 sterility and plant not more than from three to five rows of one variety in 

 a solid block, placing the varieties, which bloom at approximately the 

 same time alongside, so that insects can carry the pollen from one to 

 another. No one can afford to take chances on self-sterility by planting 

 a single variety, no matter how promising it may be. — Orange Judd 

 ^Farmer. 



THE ARRAXGEAIENT OF FLOWFRS. 



(Annice Bodey Callancl ) 



Some persons have a natural gift for arranging flowers artistically, 

 just as some have a genius for painting, music or poetry. The Japanese 

 are certainly so blessed; they do not follow our customs of arranging 

 flowers, but place just one perfect blossom in a choice receptacle, yet 

 they have a thousand fancies for arranging flowers, selecting them for 

 certain occasions with regard to their color and sentiment. 



Those who have not the natural gift for arranging plants and flowers 

 may do much toward improving their "sense of the iitness of things" by 

 studying nature. She has her own rules for the use of color, whether 

 she is painting a landscape or a carnation, and never makes a mistake 

 in the arrangement. 



If you would know how much more pure are the colors of flowers 



than the paint of the artist, just give a dab of cadmium yellow or chrome 



yellow on a petal of the California poppy or a dab of pink madder on a 



pink rose petal, or a cobalt blue on a purple aster. One is surprised at 



:the dull, dead appearance of the paint. The artist soon learns the great 



