99 



given as a reason for its poor bearing in Florida. I would like you to answer me the 

 following questions : 



If the want of the pollen is the cause of its not fruiting in Florida, why does it 

 fruit so well in California? 



If it has no pollen, how does it happen that it affects trees all around it and causes 

 them to produce navel oranges ? 



Answer. The statement has not been made that because the Bahia orange flowers 

 are lacking in pollen here this variety does not fruit well in Florida, but rather that 

 it does not fruit well there for the same reason, that is, want of pollen to properly 

 pollenize the pistil; this we know to be a fact from personal inspection of trees of 

 this variety when in flower in Florida. Since the first flowering of the Bahia here, 

 quite a dozen years ago, this defect has been recognized. After the fruit became pop- 

 ular in California it was ascertained by inquiry that while the trees did not bear so 

 abundantly as many other varieties, yet it produced a fairly profitable crop in that 

 State. 



It therefore seems probable that the climatic and cultural conditions permit of a 

 better development of pollen in California than in Florida and in some other places. 

 This would not be an exceptional case. It is well known that climatic conditions 

 affect the pollen of plants. Those who are in the habit of saving seeds know that 

 plants will often fail to set seeds in the extreme heat of summer, but will produce 

 fruit and seed abundantly later in the season when the temperature is lower. The 

 reverse of this is also known ; some plants will only seed well during the warmest 

 part of the season, and fail to do so in cooler weather. Whether the flowering season 

 of the Bahia in California is more favorable to the ripening of its pollen than is its 

 flowering season in Florida is a point to be determined. 



With regard to the question : If this navel orange has no pollen, how does it hap- 

 pen that it affects trees all around it and causes them to produce navel oranges ? it 

 may be stated that this question has been frequently similarly presented for expla- 

 nation. Presented in this manner it suggests doubt as to the accuracy of the ob- 

 servation of those who have been unable to find pollen in the flowers of this variety 

 of orange; at the same time it furnishes no proof of the existence of pollen on the 

 trees which are stated to exert so powerful an influence upon their neighbors. The 

 question can therefore only be looked upon as an imaginary hypothesis. 



The absence or presence of pollen in a blossom is a matter easily determined; a 

 few minutes of inspection would enable the observer to state definitely whether it 

 has no pollen or the reverse. 



If the statement is varied, that the tree has an abundance of perfect pollen, the 

 cause of nonproductiveness would then become a question of further inquiry. This 

 direct evidence of an abundance of pollen would be entitled to a degree of respect 

 which is certainly not afforded by the supposition that because other fruit show a 

 navel mark therefore the suspected tree must have had an abundance of perfect 

 pollen. 



The navel mark on oranges is a very indefinite article. Sometimes fruits may be 

 taken from a tree some of which will have a scarcely preceptible indentation as a 

 mark, while others will show a protuberance half an inch in diameter. The cause of 

 this mark has not been explained. This much may, however, be looked upon as 

 certain, that if a vegetable physiologist picked a fruit having something of a navel 

 mark from a tree of the St. Michael's, or from a tree of Maltese oval, or from one of 

 any variety not known as a navel, he would not be apt to attribute the appearance 

 of the mark to pollen influence of any kind. X^ V/ 



CANARY SEED. 



G. M. E., Cecil County, Maryland. I. write for information upon the subject of canary 

 seed. I have in view the subject of planting it for a crop if it will grow here and 



pay. ' I shall be obliged for what information you ean give mq as to the character of 



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