128 



Pollination of Fruits. 



[May, 



With regard to the method, paper bags (as used by confec- 

 tioners for sweets) and muslin bags were employed. The bags were 

 tied over the unopened flower buds shortly before their opening. 



About five flower buds each of apple, pear or plum, and 

 ten of cherry were enclosed, and were left untouched until the 

 petals had fallen, when the fruits set were counted and noted. 



The bags were removed when the flowers opened, and pollen 

 taken from the same flower (the same tree or another tree of 

 the same variety), was applied with a camel hair brush to the 

 stigmas ; in some cases stamens containing pollen were used with 

 forceps for applying the pollen, and after the petals had fallen, 

 the bags were taken off and the number of young fruits counted. 



When the flowers had opened, the bags were removed, 

 and pollen taken from a different variety w 7 as applied to the 

 stigmas, after w T hich the bags w T ere tied up again. 



Emasculation is advisable in the case of self-fertile varieties; 

 when buds are emasculated, the stamens of the flowers are 

 removed by scissors, forceps or a fine comb before the pollen 

 has shed; foreign pollen was usually applied at the same 

 time. The bags w 7 ere afterwards replaced and left on 

 till the petals had fallen, when the young fruits were counted. 

 During the trials, observations were made and notes were taken 

 in each case about once a fortnight until the fruit was mature and 

 nearly ready to pick. 



Pear Trials (1911-20). 



The results from the following varieties of pears were 



VARIETIES. 



Conference ... 

 Durondeau ... 

 Williams' Bon Chretien 

 Dr. Jules Guyot . ... 

 Beurre Hardy- 

 Doyenne du cornice . . . 



Own 



POLLEN. 



49 

 5-2 

 9 

 4 

 2 

 1 



11 



Foreign 

 Pollen. 



— 2 



48 



? 



30 

 14 



3 

 8 



Other varieties that showed themselves more or less self- 

 fruitful were :— Triompe de Yienne, Petite Marguerite, Colmar 

 d'Ete, Doyenne d'Ete, Marguerite Marillat, Duehesse d'Angou- 

 ieme, and Pitmaston Duchess. 



