BLOOMING PERIOD OF TREE FRUITS 
answer to the question suggested above. 
It 18 common knowledge that Huropean 
or Domestica plums cross with difficulty 
on other types of this fiuit, and that this 
group should, therefo1e be considered 
separately and apart from other plums 
when selecting cross pollenizers On the 
other hand, all groups of native plums 
together with the Japanese valieties in- 
terpollinate rather treely, and thus we 
may be quite indifferent as to group re- 
lations when considering varieties falling 
under these heads. However, we are not 
prepared to say whether or not there 1s 
any difference in the degree of affinity be- 
tween varieties of the same group, or if 
such affinity does exist whether it is a 
constant character or not. Until we are 
able to answer definitely these questions, 
the bloom chart is the only safe guide we 
have in selecting varieties for the purpose 
of cross-pollination. Waugh has prob- 
ably given this problem more attention 
than any other student, and his work has 
led him to lay very little stress on mu- 
tual affinity in his latest publications on 
this subject In a number of prelimi- 
nary hand cross-pollinations with apples 
at this station, the results indicate that 
the female parent to the cross is quite 
indifferent to the kind of pollen offered 
so long as it 1s of another variety of 
apple and is in good condition; but our 
trials have not been sufficiently extensive 
to draw positive conclusions. 
If these conclusions are correct, then 
the bloom chart is even more valuable 
than at first supposed; but in any case 
it must always be consulted if we are to 
practice mixed planting with success. 
Planting together varieties of different 
blooming periods does not meet the needs 
in the case, but the kinds that have prac- 
tically the same blooming period should 
be selected. Although a number of ex- 
periment stations have published bloom- 
ing data for the benefit of the grower, 
yet none of these apply to the Virginia 
planter. It is a well known fact that the 
relative blooming period of a series of 
varieties will not be the same for differ- 
ent localities, especially if they be remote 
from each other. No one chart can be 
constructed that will apply with equal 
655 
force to all sections of the United States. 
However, charts that apply to other sec- 
tions have some value and should be con- 
sulted in the event that there is lack of 
more definite intormation. Though Vir- 
ginia has a rather variable climate, the 
territory covered is not so extensive, but 
that data taken in one locality will apply 
in a fair degree to the rest of the state. 
The chart on pn. 656-7-8-9 is therefore ex- 
pected to serve as a safe guide to the 
Virginia fruit grower. It has been com- 
piled from a large mass of notes extend- 
ing over a period of 13 years; the num- 
ber of observations, each representing a 
different year, 1s given in the left-hand 
column just after the variety name. The 
number of vears covered guarantees a 
safe norm, whereas norms reached by 
only three or four observations would 
hardly appear to be reliable. The apple 
orchard was planted in the spring of 
1889, but all notes on apple collected 
prior to 1896 have been disregarded be- 
cause of the unreliability of bloom notes 
from trees during their earlier stages of 
growth. 
The next step in this work should be 
the collection of blooming data from dif 
ferent sections of the state with the view 
of developing a phenological map for Vir- 
ginia, and to this end we solicit the co- 
operation of all those who are interested 
in this subject. Bloom note forms and 
instructions will be furnished those de- 
Ssiring to aid us in these studies. 
Explanation of Chart 
In the charts following the blooming 
period of each given variety is repre- 
sented by the starred line following the 
name. This line begins with the average 
recorded for first bloom open and extends 
two days beyond the period of full bloom. 
While flowers remain receptive for more 
than two days after full bloom during 
cloudy weather, this is not the case if 
conditions are favorable to pollination. 
The different fruits or groups of same 
are arranged in order of their blooming, 
as this arrangement appears best for 
comparisons. 
For APPLES, 
Apple, 
see Pollination, under 
