76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



are numerous and a limited number of those most significant and 

 reliable are related elsewhere. 



Among the climatic agencies which affect the orchard, it is 

 generally agreed among fruit growers that prevalence of inclement 

 weather, rain and the usually accompanying wind during the 

 blooming period, causes the loss of more fruit than perhaps ill 

 weather at any other season. The damage is manifold; pollen is 

 washed from the anthers, stigma secretion washed away or diluted 

 so that pollen may fail to germinate; chilled air reduces the vitality 

 of the pollen, while an excess of moisture may swell and burst the 

 grains. 



There is an accompanying factor which may serve to counteract, 

 in part at least, unfortunate weather conditions. The Kansas 

 Agricultural Experiment Station is responsible for the statement 

 " that an insufficient supply of bees will hinder the setting of fruit 

 and while other insects may take part in carrying the pollen, the 

 fruit raisers must rely chiefly on honey-bees." Apropos of this 

 delayed bloom, in " Bienen-Varter " are given the results of experi- 

 ments in which netting was put over the branches of trees at the 

 time of their blooming. On the covered limbs the blossoming 

 period was prolonged as if the flowers were waiting for the bees to 

 pollinate them. The time of prolongation of the bloom on these 

 covered limbs in comparison with uncovered blossoms, is as follows : 

 Apple trees, 1 to 3 days. 

 Pear trees, 4 to 5 days. 

 Plum trees, 4 to 7 days. 

 Incidentally it was reported that the fruit failed to set on the 

 covered branches. 



A notable example of the effect of unfavorable climatic conditions 

 during the blooming period of the apple orchard is reported by F. A. 

 Merritt of Andrew, Iowa; "Our apple orchard is situated in such 

 a way that it is exposed to both the north and south winds. About 

 four years ago when the trees on the south row (Transcendents, 

 they throw out a heavy growth of foliage at the same time it blooms) 

 began to open their bloom, a heavy wind prevailed for about five 

 days. I noticed during this period that the bees could not touch 

 the bloom on the south side of the trees, but worked merrily on the 

 more sheltered limbs of the north side. What was the result? 



