General Considerations. 13 



stood. In fruits of which the flower buds are more subject 

 to harm from cold than the leaf buds, as in the stone fruits, 

 the flower buds are often destroyed in winter. 



14. The self-Sterility of varieties. Recent investigations 

 have shown that many, perhaps most, varieties of fruit are 

 infertile to their own pollen: i. e., their flowers will not set 

 fruit unless their stigmas receive pollen from some other 

 variety. . For example, the Bartlett pear fruits well only 

 when its stigmas receive pollen from some other kind of 

 pear than Bartlett. The limits of self-sterility have not 

 been determined, but until they are determined it is wise to 

 mingle varieties freely in the fruit plantation, rather than 

 to plant large blocks of a single variety. As a rule, more 

 than two rows of a given variety should not be planted to- 

 gether. Care should also be taken to plant varieties to- 

 gether, so far as practicable, that bloom at the same time. 



15. Fruit packages should be provided early to avoid 

 delays in harvesting. They may often be advantageously 

 secured during the winter, so that they can be nailed up 

 and branded when time is less valuable than during the 

 growing season. They should be stored in a dry place 

 where the sun cannot shine upon them, and away from 

 rats and mice. Damp package-material to be kept some 

 time before putting in shape should be piled loosely to pre- 

 vent mildew. As the package is influential in selling the 

 fruit, neatness in its appearance is important. Second- 

 hand packages should only be used for inferior fruit. The 

 different kinds of packages are considered in connection 

 with the fruits for which they are used. 



The requisites to a good package are (a) sufiicient 

 strength, (b) neatness, (c) cheapness and (d) lightness. 

 "Gift" packages, i. e., those that are furnished free with 



