336 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



normal stigmas. Of three hundred and three flowers 

 upon the dryer side, only three were still fresh and 

 capable of fertilization. The effect of the water in 

 retarding the development of the flowers was strik- 

 ingly illustrated. 



* ********** 



"Although, as mentioned above, after the spray 

 had been removed many flowers with perfect anthers 

 and pistils remained capable, presumably, of self-pol- 

 lination, only one fruit, bearing three seeds, was 

 borne by the tree. This was produced about midway 

 between that half more heavily wet down and that 

 more nearly dry. The unsprayed tree produced a fair 

 crop of normal fruit. 



"Two vines situated near each other were selected 

 for an experiment. One was left untreated for a 

 check, the other was sprayed for twelve nights and 

 days. Since the Duchess came into blossom later 

 than was anticipated, the sprayed vine was under 

 treatment a week before the check began to bloom. 

 Unavoidably the spray was discontinued before either 

 of the vines was out of blossom. It will, therefore, 

 be seen that the twelve days' treatment did not cover 

 the entire period that the vines were in bloom. 



"The first apparent effect of the spray was to re- 

 tard the opening of the grape blossoms four days, as 

 compared with the blossoming of the check vine. 

 This effect was noticeable during the blossoming 

 period, and the treated vine continued in blossom 

 at least four days longer than the check. Retarding 

 the blossoming period, however, had no perceptible 



