lo I AX., igii.j Sicrilifv in Fruit Trees. 13 



Remedies for Sterility. 



Taking the summary of direct causes, as stated, imperfection in th(- 

 structural arrangement of blossom is, in the case of a tree such as that 

 mentioned, generally a recurring trouble that cannot be remedied. No 

 time should therefore be wasted widi such a tree. If the stem is .sounr! 

 it might be worked over with a \ariety of good repute. 



In regard to the unfruitful habit of growth and over-production of 

 spurs good results may sometimes be obtained by adopting proper methods 

 of pruning both of wood and spurs. In the matter of spur-prunmg. 

 AX'inter Xelis has responded well to this treatment which has been adopted 

 \>\ the writer. Inspector Hammond states — " With Winter Nelis and 

 Gansel's liergamot. 1 have noted that thinning out the spurs caused the 

 fruit to set." 



Inspector Cock, of Bendigo, in referring to this matter, writes " . 

 good average crop of pears has set throughout the district, ^Villiams' Bon 

 Chretien being the heaviest, with Winter Xelis and Causers the lightest. 

 This is due to a large extent to allowing too many buds of a weak and 

 depleted character to remain, and pruning off all light laterals. Where 

 bud arrangement has been carried out, and laterals allowed to remain, 

 good crops of Gansel's Winter Xelis, and, in fact, all varieties have 

 set." 



In regard to Kieft'er's Hybrid pear, its general hal)it of growth is 

 diametrically opposed to fruit-bearing, being very vigorous and upright. 

 At Eltham. and also at a few orchards in the Diamond Creek district, 

 the .soil conditions make for weakly growth on the part of this variety. 

 As a consequence of the weakly and rather spreading habit of growth, 

 this otherwi.se sterile pear fruits splendidly, in fact, better than most 

 kinds. It is, however, almost impossible to bring this condition about by 

 pruning when the soil is favourable to strong growth in Kieffer and when 

 the tree has not been worked out from time of planting. 



We have, however, in this variety of pear, one that responds readih 

 to cross-fertilization. P'rom facts observed, and experiments conducted, 

 it would appear that Kieffer is very receptive to fertilization — not from its 

 own j)ollen. but from pollen from other varieties of pears, such as Har- 

 ringtons Victoria, Le Conte and Citron des Carmes. Inspector Hammond 

 states that Poire de Berriays ami Monchallard also have a very marked 

 influenrc upon the fertility of Kieffer in the Doncaster district. Inspector 

 Farrelt writes to the effect that Howell, also, is beneficial in this respect 

 in the Burwood district. 



During this .sea.son the writer has conductetl experiments by fertilizing 

 Kieffer blos.soms by hand and otherwise with other kinds. The first experi- 

 ment was carried out at Mr. C. Millthcjrpe's orchard at Diamond Creek 

 u|)on a strong-growing tree planted fifteen years ago. Until this .st-ason. 

 it has borne only a few odd pears each year, although the tree had always 

 blossomed profu.sely. It was deiided to cross with Harrington's Victoria, 

 a variety rai.serl by the late Mr. Harrington, of Diamond Creek. This 

 variety lilossoms later than Kieffer but its earlv blos.soms have (]evelo|)ed 

 when the other tree is in full bloom. The experiment was carried out 

 rm the 20th .Se]>tember and consisted of ])lacing a kerosene tin, half ful' 

 of water, in the centre of tree. Three limbs of blossom, with their b.isal 

 ends in the water, were placed in tht> tin. 'J"he blossoms retained their 

 freshne.ss for days ; in fact, some «level()])ed while in this position. The 

 result of the experiment was sckiii evident, for instead of strewing the 

 giound as in previous years, the fruit ^' ! ^plendiilly. Plate Xo. i shows 



