55 



blossoms may stop the further development of the flower 

 and might under certain conditions seriously reduce the 

 crop. 



SUMMARY 



A thoughtful consideration of all the evidence before us, 

 it seems to me, fully warrants the following general con- 

 clusions : 



1. All tests wherever made and all general observa- 

 tions agree that many varieties of apples, peaches, pears, 

 plums, sweet cherries and grapes are unable to set a crop of 

 fruit when limited to their own pollen. 



2. Some varieties of the above named fruits are partial- 

 ly self-fertile and a few are apparently wholly self-fertile 

 though the degree of fertility varies between rather wide 

 limits depending upon location, season, vigor of tree, etc. 



3. All investigators agree that as a general rule the 

 fruit resulting from crossing even in self-fertile varieties is 

 larger and better developed than self-fertilized fruit. This 

 is explained by saying that foreign pollen furnishes a 

 greater stimulus to growth because it is more acceptable to 

 the pistil and not because it transmits size character of the 

 variety from which it came. 



4. All evidence at hand contradicts the theory that the 

 wind renders any dependable assistance in bringing about 

 cross-pollination among the above named orchard fruits, 

 while it does emphasize the importance of the honey bee as 

 an agent in rendering this great service to the fruit groewr. 



5. It has been shown beyond dispute that spraying 

 open blossoms with arsenical poisons is injurious to bees. 

 The orchardists who persist in this practice secure little if 

 any benefit which would not result from either an earlier or 

 a later application. Also he runs the risk of injury to the 

 unfertilized open flowers in addition to leaving thousands of 

 poisonous cups which kill the goose that lays him golden 

 eggs. 



6. The character of the weather at blooming time is the 

 final determining factor of the fruit crop. Cool, cloudy, or 

 rainy weather at this season not only affects the development 

 of the pollen, the growth of pistil and consequent develop- 



