838 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ing. The time of formation of fruit buds was found to be much more variable 

 between different varieties of plums thiin between varieties of apples. 



From a consideration of the data as a whole the following general conclu- 

 sions as applied to orchard practice are deduced : " Buds which produce the 

 crop of bloom for the current year are formed the preceding summer; initial 

 fruit-bud formation has its beginning during June or July, depending on seJi- 

 sonal conditions and the kind of fruit. The proper development of the fruit 

 bud would therefoi'e be influenced by factors which are brought to bear upon 

 the tree prior to and during the i)eriod at which fruit-bud formation takes place. 

 In the practice of such orchard operations as are designed to influence or con- 

 trol fruit-bud formation, it appears that such operations should be more 

 effective in the spring and early summer than at other stages of development." 



Experiments in the pollination of our hardy fruits, C. H. Hooper {^gr. 

 Students' Gaz., n. ser., 15 {1911), No. 4, pp. 110-113). — In a brief summary of 

 his work conducted at Wye, Kent, the author finds that the gooseberry and red 

 and white currants fruit well under self-fertilization. In support of observa- 

 tions made in this country, however (E. S. R., 21, p. 636), he finds that a 

 majority of apples, pears, plums, and cherries require cross-pollination. 



Pollination of Bartlett and Kieffer pears, S. W. Fletcher (Virginia 8ta. 

 Bpts. 1909-10, pp. 213-22Jt, figs. 14). — A.s a result of his previous experiments 

 and observations on the barrenness of orchards, the author found that a great 

 many varieties of fruits, including the Bartlett and Kieffer pears, tended toward 

 self-sterility and that, in general, orchard planting with reference to cross- 

 pollination was advisable (E. S. R., 12, p. 237). In order to determine suit- 

 able pollenizers for the Bartlett and Kieffer pears and to some extent for other 

 fruits, experiments were conducted under the direction of the West Virginia 

 Station in 1903 and at the Michigan Station in 1906 and in 1907. The methods 

 used with other technical details have appeared in a previous paper."^ The 

 present report, which summarizes the work as a whole, shows further evidence 

 of the self-sterility of the Bartlett and Kieffer pears. 



The results of hand pollinating over 8,000 Kieffer pear blossoms and about 

 10,000 Bartlett pear blossoms in the 3 years above mentioned show that self- 

 sterility is the rule and that cross-pollination by insects is not general. The 

 Anjou, Lawrence, Duchess, and Kieffer varieties proved to be satisfactory pol- 

 lenizers for planting with the Bartlett, although in some seasons the Kieffer 

 and Bartlett do not blossom simultaneously. LeConte, Garber, Lawrence, Bart- 

 lett, Duchess, Anjou, and Clairgeau were satisfactory pollenizers for the Kieffer. 

 Although the five latter varieties do not blossom simultaneously with the 

 Kieffer in certain years, the blossoming seasons usually overlap sufficiently. 



The results of hand pollinating nearly 3,000 Gold Drop peach blossoms in 

 1906 showed no benefit to this variety from cross-pollination with St. Johns, 

 Late Crawford, or Lewis. The self-fertilized fruits were perhaps a trifle 

 superior. 



The investigation as a whole has confirmed the author's previous conclusions 

 relative to the desirability of mixed planting. No immediate effect of pollen 

 and no difl'erenees obviously due to mutual affinity were discovered. The cross- 

 fertilized fruits averaged about the same in size, shape, color, and quality 

 regardless of the pollen used. 



A new method of handling pollen, S. N. Green {Amer. Breeders Mag., 2 

 {1911), No. 1, pp. 52-54, fig. 1). — During the course of work in the pollination 

 of a number of different fruits, the author has found that empty quinin cap- 



o Methods of Crossing Fruits (Rpt. Soc. Hort. Sci., 1906, pp. 29-40). See also 

 a previous note (E. S. R., 17, p. 1125). 



