78 THE POLLINATION OF PEAR FLOWERS. 



there are indications of some differences and there are certain evidences 

 against certain varieties. It is evident that unless trees bloom 

 together, at least during the greater part of the flowering season, they 

 can not cross-pollinate each other, no matter how well adapted they 

 may be otherwise for crossing. The fact is that there is considerable dif- 

 ference in the time of blooming of different varieties. This difference 

 is greatest in the South and least in the North. In the ^^orth when 

 spring begins it advances so rapidly and the change from cold to warm 

 is so sudden that all the varieties are crowded together. Towards the 

 south the varieties become further separated in time of blooming. 

 Doubtless this varies considerably in different seasons. The more 

 slowly spring advances the more the time of blooming of the different 

 varieties will become separated. 



The temperature necessary to bring out the flowers and start the tree 

 into growth seems to vary with the variety. It is therefore very 

 desirable for persons who are x>lantiug in any part of the country to 

 know how the different A^arieties are going to bloom. However, aside 

 from this, there are many difi'erent questions to take into account in 

 selecting varieties, such as the quality of the fruit, vigor and produc- 

 tiveness, earliness of coming into bearing, shipping qualities, mar- 

 ket value, and appearance of the fruit. In some cases it might be quite 

 a difficult question to decide whether to plant one variety on account 

 of its time of blooming and reject another with more desirable 

 fruit because its flowers did not open at just the right time. I firmly 

 believe, however, that the greatest success will come from mixtures of 

 several varieties together, so that if one be too early, another one later 

 may serve; or if one does not bloom at all in a particular season, another 

 may. This point may also be worth considering iu judging new vari- 

 eties which seek attention. I am able to present only a few notes uj)on 

 this subject. The importance of the matter was not realized by me 

 until the spring of 1892, so that previous to this time only a few inci- 

 dental observations are recorded. It will suffice to call attention to 

 the fact that when two varieties bloom together in the North they can 

 by no means be safely assumed to bloom together in a more southern 

 locality. However, when two varieties bloom well together in the 

 South, it may safely be supposed that they will bloom together farther 

 north. Altitude, of course, accomiilishes the same thing as latitude. 

 It is well known that the time of blooming in high altitudes is later 

 than near the sea level. Northern localities have an advantage on 

 this account over Southern, since all the varieties come out together 

 and one is free to choose. There is also an advantage in a spring 

 which comes on rapidly and brings all the kinds out together over a 

 cooler spring, which prolongs theblooming time and allows the varieties 

 to separate. It is evident, therefore, that if pears are to pollinate each 

 other they must bloom approximately at the same time, and must at 

 least overlap in blooming time to be of any benefit whatever. In the 



