264 ANNUAL REPORT. 



knows. The reason of their superiority lies in their crisp flesh, 

 which is yet so tender as almost to dissolve in the mouth. The 

 more we get acquainted with the Wealthy the more we value it. 

 I might mention the Pewaukee, but the flesh is coarser and is more 

 for culinary use. For pollenizing in cross breeding these varieties 

 would be preferable as named in their order; also Rawle's Janet or 

 Westfield Seeknofurther could be used, if none of the others could 

 be had. A few cions of such, grafted on some hardy standard or 

 seedling kinds, would soon give the blossoms to work with. 



For planting trees for cross breeding by distribution of pollen 

 by wind and insects, little arrangement is necessary, as it is known 

 that pollen will fly, or be carried a long way and pollenize any 

 blossom that is just on the point of opening. 



If any had already been open on the same tree or others in the 

 same orchard, the pistils are just as likely to be fertilized from a 

 variety forty rods, or even eighty rods ofi", as one close by or even 

 from the '•ame limb. Most buds throw ou*^, from two to five, or 

 more flowers or spikes, but do not all open at the same time and 

 work naturally like sprouts on a potato; however, it would be well 

 to set, perhaps, rows alternately with such trees as are selected for 

 the mother or for the fruit, the seeds to be saved for replanting. 

 If the wind should be from one side of the orchard for two or three 

 days, when they are in bloom, the pistils on that side of the rows 

 would mostly be fertilized from the neighboring pollen from that 

 direction, except where insects carry the pollen against the wind. 

 The only practical way to make sure of getting anything like the 

 varieties wanted, would be to try hand work, either on a small 

 scale as described, or by having the variety selected for thy mother, 

 surrounded by the difi'erent varieties to be used as males, and have 

 a canvas teut to cover the first two trees, one year. The next year 

 with the other, etc., so in four years, the same tree can be fertilized 

 four times, and have all the fruit take only after the two varieties 

 inclosed the same year. A tent could be used over the mother tree, 

 and cut branches, full of blossoms, and inclose in the tent. Of 

 course the tents have to remain until the petals and pistils dry or 

 wilt. In this way a good share would be just what we would ex- 

 pect. 



Always save the seed of the early variety, if that was the one that 

 was hardiest and the best tree, if you want the new fruit to be after 

 the male and a keeper. On the contrary, if you want early, save 

 the seed from the opposite variety. 



