i6 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Jan., 191 i. 



the result. Mr. L. C. Brock, of Doreen, has worked Citron des Carmes 

 for pollinating purposes upon his Kieffer trees and thus obtains splendid 

 yields from trees which for years were barren. It would also appear that, 

 with Early Purple Guigne "cherry and Coe's Golden Drop plum, cross- 

 fertilization is essential to produce fruitfulness. 



Spur pruning in the case of these varieties does not seem to give the 

 results as it does, for instance, with Winter Nelis and Gansel's Bergamot 

 pears. Complaints as to the barrenness of the cherry and the plum men- 

 tioned are very general in most places, but in the Diamond Creek district 

 there are several instances where a state of fruitfulness has undoubtedly 

 been brought about by the inter-pollinating influence of other kinds grow- 

 ing near by. At Mr. J. H. Anderson's orchard. Early Purple Guigne 

 bears regularly, being alternated with Black Biggareau, while at Mr. Hollin- 

 ger's orchard Pond's Seedling appears to exert a beneficial influence upon 

 Coe's Golden Drop plum. In respect to the Doncaster district. Inspector 

 Hammond writes — " The Early Purple Guigne seems to be in need of 

 cross-fertilization. This variety is one of the earliest bloomers and when 

 no other variety blooming at the same time is planted near, light crops 

 are the rule. The varieties which do well in juxtaposition are Biggareau 

 de Mezel, Burgdorf's Seedling and Chapman. The Biggareau de Mezel 

 and Guigne, both shy varieties, are mutually benefited by being planted 

 close together." 



Thus, impotency of the pollen from natural causes would appear to 

 be the general cause of the trouble when trees of perfectly-formed blos- 

 soms refuse to set their fruit after proper methods of pruning, spur or 

 otherwise, have been adopted. Where this is the case, the only hope of 

 efl'ecting a cure is by cross-fertilization with other kinds — fertile, and blos- 

 soming simultaneously. 



Where trees are found to be sterile from causes hereditary, the only 

 wav out of the difficulty is to re-work by grafting or budding with wood, 

 or buds taken from trees known to be good doers. 



In conclusion, it is well to remember that the inter-pollinating influence 

 of some kinds upon others is a factor making for fruitfulness in trees, 

 which has never been recognised as it should have been when planting 

 orchards in the past; for it is quite feasible that, not only are som^_ shy 

 or non-bearers made fruitful by this means, but even fair-bearing varieties 

 may be impro\ed. With reference to this aspect of the question, Bailey 

 remark.s — 



Much of Ihe failure of apples, pears, and plums to set their fruit even when 

 bloom is abundant, is unquestionably due to too continuous or extensive planting of 

 individual varieties; and it is safe to expect that other fruits are also jeopardized 

 by unmixed planting. This knowledge as soon as it becomes more extensive and 

 exact is sure to modify greatly the planting of orchards. 



Therefore, with a desire to assist intending planters when selecting 

 varieties with a view to inter-pollination, the Chief Inspector of Orchards 

 has requested me to compile lists of the different varieties of fruits and 

 their blossoming periods in the districts mentioned as reported by the 

 inspectors stationed in the various fruit-growing centres of the State. 

 This information will be found in the accompanying table. The dates 

 given refer to the full bloom period. In order to arrive at the date of 

 partial bloom an average allowance of from six to nine days should be 

 reckoned. 



