302 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



The discovery practically means that certain varieties 

 can only have their ovaries fertilised by pollen obtained 

 from another variety, conveyed either by the agency of 

 bees or other insects, by wind, or by the aid of man. 

 Apparently, while a variety cannot pollinate itself by 

 means of its own pollen, yet it is capable of being fertilised 

 by that from another variety, even thougih it may be self- 

 sterile itself. To pollinate self-sterile varieties success- 

 fully, there must, therefore, be plenty of bees about to 

 collect pollen from other trees that are in blossom at the 

 same time. Hence, it follows that if a single apple tree 

 of a self-sterile variety, like Cox's Orange Pippin, be 

 grown only there is a risk of no fruit being produced, be- 

 cause, unless there are apple trees grown in adjoining 

 gardens, there would be no supply ol potent pollen 

 available. 



The obvious remedy is to grow self-fertile and self- 

 sterile sorts together, then if there are plenty of bees 

 about, pollination will be assured. Then, wherever pos- 

 sible, one or two hives of bees should be kept in' every 

 garden where fruit is grown largely, and in the case of 

 extensive fruit gardens, no less than 40 hives should be 

 kept for every 160 acres of plantation. Where there are 

 only a few trees it would be a good plan to hand-pollinate 

 the blossoms on fine days by means of a rabbit's tail fixed 

 to a stick. 



And it is not only the fruits mentioned that require the 

 aid of bees and insects to ensure perfect pollination of 

 the blossoms. The pollen grains in the flowers of the 

 gooseberry and currant are of a glutinous nature, and 

 hence cannot be conveyed from one tree to another with- 

 out the assistance of insects. Nor can raspberries, nor 

 loganberries, do so effectively without such aid. Cobnuts 

 and filberts are pollinated easily by wind agency. Grapes, 

 again, also peaches and nectarines grown under glass, 

 require hand or insect pollination. Old-fashioned gar- 

 deners made a practice of placing a hive of bees in their 



