POLLINATION AND STERILITY 295 



as no development of the seeds takes place, the fleshy or 

 surrounding parts usually fail to develop also. 



Not only is there an influence on the size of the fruit, but 

 the number of seeds that has developed may also affect the 

 quality, the more seeds the higher the quality. A striking 

 case is that of the Japanese persinunon (Diospyros Kaki) ^ 

 which develops many parthenocarpic fruits, but whether 

 pollination is useful as a stimulation is not known. The 

 fruits which develop seeds manifest a richer and better fla- 

 vor than the seedless ones, and also other marked charac- 

 teristics obtain. The seedless fruits are larger in size, of a 

 smoother texture and usually ripen later than those devel- 

 oping seeds. Outstanding is the effect of the seeds on the 

 color of the flesh. When seeds develop, the flesh is dark in 

 color and light when seedless. 



Heinicke records the relation between size of apples and 

 the number of seeds that has developed. The following 

 fruits of Fallawater apples were produced on spurs of equal 

 vigor.- 



Number of seeds Weight grains of fruit 



3 16.84 



5 18.72 



8 23.15 



9 24.02 



11 29.40 



264. Artificial pollination. — The artificial pollination of 

 common deciduous fruit blossoms is not practiced except 

 for experimental piu'poses or the production of new varieties. 

 Perhaps the nearest approach to any intervention by man 

 is the occasional practice of placing flowering branches of 

 plums or cherries in jars of water and hanging them in a 



1 Hume, H. H. Proc. Soc. Hort. Sci. 1913. pp. 88-93. 

 - Factors influencing the ab.scission of flowers and partially developed 

 fruits of the apple. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 1916. 



