POLLINATING THE PECAN 



Systematic breeding, rcciuirin*,' careful 

 cross-jjollination, is of much imjjortance 

 to the i^ecan j^rower. The ])hoto^raph 

 below shows the method which we now 

 find most satisfactory for protecting 

 pollinated blossoms. When the pollen 

 is ripe on thousands of trees at the 

 same time, the air is full of it; and it's 

 the same way with thrips — there are 

 millions of them wherever one turns. 

 Formerly we protected our pollinated 

 blossoms with paper bags large enough 

 to envelop all the leaves, but this did 

 not always keep out foreign pollen and 

 thrips, and it frequently damaged the 

 leaves, which had a corresponding 



elTeet on the nuts. We have learned 

 that sound leaves are absolutely neces- 

 sary from start to finish, for a perfect 

 fruit. The method shown in Fig. 18 

 is not only secure, but lets the leaves 

 have full benefit of the air and light. 

 So important is the latter, in our 

 experience, that we do all our breeding 

 work on the south side of the trees, 

 where the maximum of sunlight falls. 

 In pollinating, I may add that it is my 

 practice first to breathe on the pistillate 

 blossoms — this seems to make the pollen 

 stick better. 



E. E. Risiii;x, San Saba. Tex. 



rKOTECTINt; I'OLIJNATED PEC.V.N »LOSS().MS 



In the lower eentral part of the [jhotograph is a heavy bunch of catkin.s (male blossoms): these 

 the operator always strius off. Directly above these is a small square of white paper, on 

 which are some pistillate (female) flowers in a condition to Ijc cToss-jJollinated. At the left 

 is a cluster of pistillate blossoms protected by being wra])ped in cotton batting; opposite this at 

 the right is a similar cluster, the cotton being enveloped with a piece of heavy glacine 

 paper, as a ijrotection from moisture. (Fig. 18.) 



384 



