72 



ANNUAL REPORT 



have to mention that a Wealthy on a gravelly knoll opened a few flowers on the 

 same date as the Transcendent ; while the most of them on level ground com- 

 menced to hlossom on the 8th. Several, where the snow laid the longest, not till 

 the 13th ; so there were eight days between them. All but the first one bore a good 

 crop of apples, and that one was on the knoll, and the blossoms were affected the 

 same as those already meutioued. 



Now as we come to tlie third^question — the flowers when they first opened were 

 as perfect as those on the later trees of the same kind, but they were .scalded o^ 

 burned as it afterwards proved, and will be described more fully hereafter. 



There is quite a difference in the size, form, and color of the petals, or flower 

 leaves of the different varieties, some being larger than others ; also, some have 

 longer pistils and some thicker and broader ones ; some are crooked and .some 

 doubled up, when they pu.sh through the petals. All that I- have examined seem 

 to have plenty of stamens and the flowers appear to be perfect ; but the variations 

 in the forms of the pistils mvist have something to do about their impregnation, as 

 those that are longer and straight seem to have more perfect stigmas, and force 

 their Avay through the flower's leaves first, so that the\' can be fertilized as .soon as 

 the pollen is ripe enough or dry enough to fall or fly. Bv all appearances there is 

 pollen enough in the flowers of one single tree bud to fertilize fifty or one hundred 

 times as many pisti's as there are in the flowers of that bud. The only way to 

 answer the question asked, would be to isolate or inclose a bud of the different 

 varieties, either in a glass bottle or small light paper bag, until the flowers had 

 opened and the petals dropped off ; then it could be taken off and the flowers 

 watched to see if any fruit sets. If fruit sets and perfects itself, and the seeds 

 become full size, the perfection of the varieties could be ascertained to a certainty. 

 A single bud on a spur is sufficient on one tree to make a trial ; and the seeds sown 

 and trees raised from this fruit, could not be other than the variety of fruit the 

 seed is raised from. But if the little apples should all drop off, it would be evident 

 that either the pollen or the pistils were not perfect ; that is if the other buds on 

 the tree should be setting fruit. 



In answer to the fourth question — I would say, plant together those varieties that 

 blossom at the same time. 



Answer to the fifth. All those that have very short pistils, and hollow petals, as 

 they shield the embryo and protect it from the cold and winds ; such, for instance, 

 as the Fourth of July, "Wealthy, Fameuse, and others that have such forms or are sa 

 constructed. 



Now we must describe what we mentioned on starting in on the third question. 

 We found the petals Iturned, or scalded as it were, and before the later varieties 

 commenced to bloom, the first ones were already dead. It happened that we had 

 from 92 to 96 degrees heat, and wind south, southwest, for two or three days, just 

 in time to scorch the first bloomers, and in a few days not only the blo.ssom, but the 

 leaves that had started out with the blossoms were blighted from the heat, and 

 commenced running down and effected to the last years' growth, so nine-tenths of 

 all the twigs .so affected perished, except those we stopped by breaking off the new 

 spur that had just blossomed. It made no difference, the apples, as well as the 

 Transcendent crabs, were affected alike on the north, as well as on the south side 

 of the trees. All the trees that were in full bloom on those two or three hot day?> 



