218 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Apr. 1 



anthers will dehisce. Many pol- 

 lenizers use this method in cases 

 of emergency. Perhaps the 

 most popular way of collecting 

 pollen is to pick off the unopen- 

 ed buds, remove the anthers, 

 and let them dehisce. 



After trying some of these 

 methods outlined we decided 

 that better results could be ob- 

 tained by the use of the forcing- 

 house. In a house twelve by 

 fourteen feet, containing from 

 twelve to thirty jars of blos- 

 soms, sutlicient pollen can be 

 gathered to carry on very exten- 

 sive experiments in cross-pollin- 

 ation. 



APPLYING POLLEN TO THE PIS- 

 TILS 



We have found that the quick- 

 est and most effective way of 

 applying pollen to the pistils is 

 by the use of a small pointed 

 camel's-hair brush, having a han- 

 dle from six to eight inches long. 

 (Plate IV.) While in this way 

 more or less pollen is wasted in 

 making the application, never- 

 theless the disadvantages are 

 greatly of fset by the advantages. 

 Brush pollination is very effect- 

 ive, also allowing for gipat rs- 





PLATE IX.— SHOWING METHOD OF COLLECTING 

 AND TRANSFERRING POLLEN 



PLATE XIII.— BLOSSOMS READY FOR EMASCULATION. 



This should always be done before the petals unfold. 



However, when possible emasculation should be delayed 



until the petals are nearly ready to open. 



pidity; and when a great many thousand 

 blossoms must be pollinated it is the most 

 practicable method used. The simplest 

 way of applying pollen is to touch the stigma 

 with a dehisced anther. Another method is 

 to dip the thumb or fore finger in the pollen 

 and then transfer to the stigma of the pistil. 

 When using the camel's-hair brush too 

 much care can not be exercised in making 

 the application. Enough pollen should be 

 placed on the stigma so that it can be readi- 

 ly perceived. In all cases each kind of pol- 

 len for each variety pollinated must have its 

 own brush if scientific results are to be ob- 

 tained. By sterilizing the brushes they can 

 be used over and over again. 



WHEN TO MAKE APPLICATION. 



There appears to be considerable contro- 

 versy as to the best time of applying the pol- 

 len to the pistils. The indications are that 

 much depends upon the maturity of the 

 buds whether or not a pistil is receptive at 

 the time of emasculating^. The receptiveness 

 of the pistil is also influenced by such ele- 

 ments as climatic conditions, vigor and age 

 of tree, variety, condition of soil, and gen- 

 eral care of orchard. 



The paramount question to settle is wheth- 

 er better results can be obtained by applying 

 the pollen at the time of emasculation or 

 waiting until the pistil is receptive. From 

 the deductions made of the work carried on 

 by this station, excellent results have been 

 obtained by applying the pollen to the pistil 



