32 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1894. 



foruia, in 1891. But a low temperature, yet above freezing, continued 

 for days, or a sudden reduction of temperature, or changes througli a 

 wide range of temperature, may accomplish the same disastrous result. 

 For this cause as for the freezing there is no remedy except the shel- 

 ter of forests. These are planted in California to protect from cold 

 winds, and on the shores of our great lakes it is a grave question 

 whether this has not been one of the chief causes of the growing in- 

 fertility of the apple, the pear, the quince, the cherry and the peach. 



5. A fifth cause of infertility is rain at the time of blossoming. 

 This falling at the maturity of the pollen washes it away, perhaps rots 

 or makes it worthless. Moreover, even if little rain falls, if there is 

 a condition of mist and cloud for several days, the result is the same — 

 the pollen does not mature, the dampness makes the union of pollen 

 and ovule fruitless. 



Certain it is that in the West, where there is almost unbroken sun- 

 shine and little rain, fruit crops are surer than here, and except as 

 rarely affected by blight of frost, are practically uniform. 



Rain also, prevents insects from visiting flowers and the fertiliza- 

 tion usually performed by such visitation does not take place. Many 

 authorities believe that the cherry is fertilized only by insects strew- 

 ing the pollen over the tops of the pistils. If this is true — of which 

 I have some doubts — then we have another factor indirectly hindering 

 the production of fruit. 



If it were rain alone that washed away or rotted the pollen, younger 

 and smaller fruit trees might be protected from wet at the time of 

 blossoming by canvas protectors such as are used for hay-caps, but 

 for large apple-trees this plan would probably prove too expensive. 

 Moreover, if we are dependent on insects for fertilization, the shelter- 

 tent plan would prove ineffectual, since if the atmosphere be filled 

 with rain or mist, insects will not leave their shelters to visit the blos- 

 soms. And yet I have a strong impression that this question of fer- 

 tilization is a very important factor in the cultivation of fruits, and 

 that in some way the securing of fructification by artificial me.ins will 

 be a possible attainment. Can we not experiment in this direction ? 



6. It is certainly pertinent to inquire in this connection whether 

 either too little or too much wind at the time of fruit-blossoming may 

 prevent fertilization. The point is one on which I can present but 

 very meagre data. I have two Beurre d'Anjou pear-trees, one of 

 which is sheltered by a line of higher trees on the north of it and 

 which rarely fruits, the other planted at the same time and almost 

 unsheltered bears fairly well almost every year. A sheltered Urban- 



