246 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



on any of the twigs from which bees were shut out. On the twige 

 covered with sacks, into which bees were put, there were on the pluras^ 

 three and five, the cherry five, on the pears six an eight respectively. 

 On the uncovered branches of the plums were eight and five, the 

 cherry seven, and the pears eight and eleven : 



Bees Not 



enclosed, covered. 



From one-fourth to one-twentieth only developed fruit, but this 

 fortunately is always so. 



What makes these experiments all the more favorable to the bee 

 is that maoy small insects, called thrips, were noticed on the blooQi 

 inside the coverings, yet though they must have carried pollen from an- 

 ther to stigma, and from blossom to blossom, yet without so much as 

 pollinating one pistil. 



In one experiment with the plum. Prof. Cook covered a branch, 

 and when it was in bloom, and the bees working in force on the trees^ 

 he removed the sack, and keeping watch marked the blossoms on 

 which he saw bees work. When he ceased watching the branch was 

 re-covered, and at length the four blossoms alone on which he saw 

 bees alight developed into plums. 



No doubt some varieties of our common fruits are self-fertile, but 

 none the less should cross-fertilization be sought, for the great ad- 

 vantage ot it, even where flowers are self-fertile, is abundantly proved 

 by Darwin and others. 



It is to be noted that cross-pollination is accomplished only by 

 the application of the pollen of one variety to the pistils of another 

 variety. Cross-polliDation cannot be effected between two trees of 

 Baldwins. All Baldwins are in effect one tree, so of other varieties. 

 Hence the pertinancy of the advice of Mr. M. B. Waite, endorsed by 

 Prof. Cook. 



"Plant mixed orchards, or at least avoid planting solid blocks of 

 one variety. It is not desirable to have more than three or four rows 

 of one variety together unless experience has shown it to be perfectly 

 self-fertile." 



In this connection I quote Prof. Barrows ; he says of apples : Most 

 varieties are practically self-sterile, and so far as we know now are 

 completely self-fertile. In what way is cross-pollination best accom- 

 plished? In some cases this is well done by the wind (as in corn and 



