56 



ment of ovules, but the action of insects is also reduced to 

 the minimum, thereby lessening the chance for cross-pollina- 

 tion. It has been shown that excessively cool weather at 

 blooming time often renders self-fertile varieties incapable 

 of self-fertilization though they still retain the ability to be 

 cross-fertilized. 



In conclusion it seems safe to say that the fruit grower 

 cannot afford to make very extensive plantings of any of 

 the orchard fruits under discussion without making pro- 

 vision for abundant cross-pollination. This is most easily 

 and practically done by choosing commercial or standard 

 sorts that will bloom at approximately the same time, setting 

 these varieties in small blocks of only a few rows each and 

 by establishing a few colonies of honey bees near or in his 

 fruit plantation. 



MR. W. M. PURRINGTON. How many hives ought 

 there to be in an orchard of, say, 100 trees? 



PROF. CHENOWETH. I don't know that I can 

 answer that very definitely, but I have heard it stated that a 

 colony of bees to 50 trees would be plenty. It would per- 

 haps be better if you had more bees than that. I should 

 think one colony to 50 trees would be satisfactory. 



MR. PURRINGTON. Even in cold and cloudy weath- 

 er? 



PROF. CHENOWETH. No ; probably not under those 

 conditions. Then you would probably need more bees, and 

 1 think that in that sort of weather you would want your 

 bees scattered, because in weather of that kind the bees 

 won't go very far from home, and if your fruit plantation is 

 very large it would be better to have the bees distributed 

 over the plantation. 



I will refer you to the experience of the Secretary of 

 this Association as given in my paper, which will explain 

 some points — this last one, at least. 



MR. PERKINS. I would like to ask if you have pub- 

 lished, or if there is any bulletin which will give practically 

 up to date, substantially what you have said, as well as any 

 other late experiments on this whole subject? 



PROF. CHENOWETH. There are bulletins from the 

 Oregon Station; the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Annual Re- 



