834 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



with commercial growers during the period 1915-1919. In obtaining necessary 

 data a total of about 80,000 tomato blossoms have been under observation. 

 The results of other investigators are reviewed and a bibliography is appended. 



Hand pollination of flowers has reduced the number of unfruitful blossoms 

 from G6 per cent to 20 per cent of the total number of flowers produced, the 

 percentage of reduction depending upon the comparative thoroughness of the 

 pollination. For various causes difficult to control, when working with a large 

 number of blossoms, a reduction below 20 per cent of unfruitful blossoms 

 seemed to be impossible. The average fruitfulness in typical plants of 15 crops 

 of tomatoes was 72 per cent for pollinated blossoms and 36 per cent for unpol- 

 linated blossoms. The average yields for pollinated and unpollinated plants 

 were 7.4 and 4.4 lbs. of tomatoes, respectively. The percentage of fruitfuln 

 and unfruitfulnoss of individual clusters of a crop given specific treatment 

 varied to a considerable extent, but total and average records Indicated a re- 

 markable mean of percentage of uniformity of all clusters. 



Of various methods of pollination tried, the emasculation method has been 

 more widely used than any other, and is recommended principally because of 

 ease in applying pollen, prevention of duplication of pollination, and thorough- 

 ness of application at a time when the flower is most receptive. Details de- 

 veloped at the station in using the emasculation method are described. 



Hand pollination of blossoms stimulated early development of the fruit as 

 compared with naturally pollinated blossoms. Fruits produced from hand-pol- 

 linated flowers have been harvested as early as 21 days before fruit from plants 

 not artificially pollinated. The author points out that the cost of pollination 

 for the entire season, which was approximately 3 cts. per plant, may be covered 

 by increased yields from pollinated plants in the first two weeks of harvesting, 

 when higher prices prevail. The comparative net returns of plants after de- 

 ducting the cost of pollination show an increased value of from 16 to 67 cts. a 

 plant, or an average of 3S cts. a plant for pollination. 



It is pointed out that whereas regularity and thoroughness of pollination are 

 conducive to high plant yield. Inexperienced labor, haste, and irregularity In 

 doing the work may not produce profitable net results. 



Organizing canhouse tomato growers for emergency production. R. W. De- 

 Baun (Proc. Amcr. Snc. Hort. Sci., 15 (1018). pp. 59-62).— The method of or- 

 ganizing tomato growers' associations in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jer- 

 Is described. 



Extension service in pomology in the TJ. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 C. P. Close (Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 15 (191*). pp. 49-52).— An outline of 

 the Department's extension activities relating to fruit production. 



Extension work in pomology in New York. R. W. Rees (Proc. Amer. Soc. 

 Hort. Sci., 15 (1918), pp. 5S-56). — An outline of extension activities in New 

 York State. 



Report of committee on variety testing. .1. H. Gourt.ey (Proc. Amrr. Soc. 

 Hort. Sci., 15 (1918), pp. 106-110). — A list is given of large or notable col- 

 lections of fruits and nuts at American colleges and experiment stations, to- 

 gether with partial lists of variety collections in the hands of private growers 

 and nurseries. 



Winter injury of fruit trees, J. Oskamp (Ivtinnn Sta. Giro. 87 (191$}, pp. 

 11, figs. 9). — A brief survey of the extent and nature of winter injury to fruit 

 trees in Indiana during the severe winter of 1917-18, with suggestions on the 

 treatment and care of winter-injured trees. A note on Insects Associated 

 with Winter Injury, by R. W. Kelley. of the Bureau of Entomology of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, is also included. 



