158 



fordshire; Durondeau is slightly self-fer- 

 tile; most pears seem to be self-sterile. 



In apples it is advisable to interplant 

 different varieties. It is possible that 

 where everything is favourable a variety 

 miay be more self-fertile in one place than 

 another. However, it seems probaiblc 

 that no variety will produce the same 

 quantitjf and quality planted in 'block as 



Bush of Cox's Orange Pippin, 

 with Bags for Trials to find the Best Polliniser. 



where interplanted with one or more 

 other varieties. Of apples that have shown 

 themselves the most self-fertile in trial at 

 Wisley, Merton and at Wye, may be men- 

 tioned Stirling Castle, Christmas Pear- 

 main, Miller's Seedling, Irish Peach, Lord 

 Derby, Lord Grosvenor, Duchess of 

 Oldenburg, Golden Spire, King of the 

 Pippins, Baldwin and Washington. A few 

 of these fruits were seedless. Out of 157 

 varieties of apple experimented on at the 



Koyal Horticultural Society for three 

 years only 57 matured any fruit with own 

 pollen. 



A consideration of importance is 

 whether any and all varieties of the same 

 fruit answer equally well for cross- 

 pollinating, or whether there is prefer- 

 ence and better results with some crosses 

 than with others. To answer this ques- 

 tion requires long and patient experiment 

 and, of equal importance, careful observa- 

 tion in orchards and plantations in 

 different parts of the country. 



Now as to insect visitors. Personally, 

 I have a great admiration (in spite of 

 many stings) for the hive bees. To the 

 bumble bees I almost take off my hat when 

 I see them, and value the work of the 

 other smaller wild bees, but I think flies 

 chiefly play and beetles eat the different 

 parts of the blossoms. 



Insect Visitors to Fruit Blossoms. 



The following is a summary of notes on 



insects seen by me visiting the flowers of 



the following fruits. In 1912 they were 



chiefly taken at Sidmouth, in Devon; in 



1919 at Wye, Kent; and in 1921 at Per- 



shore, in Worcestershire : — 



Peach.— 1912, March 14 to April 1; and 



1921, March 15 to April 5—9 hive bees, 



5 bumble bees, 2 bluebottle flies, one 



beetle, 2 other insects. 



Pear.— 1912, April 12 to 25; 1921, March 21 

 to April 12 — 164 hive bees, 2 bumble 

 bees, 5 smaller wild bees, 2 wasps, 16 

 bluebottle flies, 2 other flies, 2 midge?, 

 one white butterfly. 



Plum.— 1912, March 29 to April 30; 1921, 

 March 25 to April 11—10 hive bees, 14 

 bumble bees, 2 smaller wild bees, 1 fly. 



Gooseberry.- 1912, April 3 to May 2 ; 1921, 

 March 24 to April 19—55 hive bees, 9 

 bumble bees, 1 smaller wild bee, 1 

 wasp, 1 bluebottle fly. 



Eed Currant.— 1912, April 19 and 20—10 

 hive bees, 1 small wild bee. 



Cheruy.— 1912, March 30 to April 25 ; 1921, 

 March 30 to April 25—94 hive bees, 72 

 bumble bees, 1 other wild bee, 1 

 spider. 



Black Currant.— 1912, AprU 19 to 27; 

 1921, March 30 to April 30—36 hive 



