82 



THE POLLINATION OF PEAR FLOWERS. 



(8) Bad weather duriug flowering time has a decidedly injurious 

 influence on fruitage by keeping away insect visitors and also by afl^'ect- 

 ing the fecundation of the flowers; conversely^ tine weather favors 

 cross-pollination and the setting of fruit. 



(9) Pears produced by self-fertilization are very uniform in shape. 

 They differ from crosses not only in size and shape, but also in some 

 cases in time of maturity and in flavor. 



(10) Among the crosses the difterences were slight or variable, so 

 that their variations are not to be ascribed with certainty to difl'erences 

 in pollen. 



(11) Self-fecundated pears are deficient in seeds, usually having only 

 abortive seeds, while the crosses are well supplied with sound seeds. 



(12) Even with those varieties which are capable of self- fecundation 

 the pollen of another variety is prepotent, and unless the entrance of 

 foreign pollen be prevented the greater number of fruits will be affected 

 by it, as shown by the study of Biifl'um pears. 



(13) The normal typical fruits and in most cases the largest and finest 

 specimens either of the self-sterile or self-fertile sorts are crosses. 



PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS. 



(1) Plant mixed orchards, or at least avoid planting solid blocks of 

 one variety. It is not desirable to have more than three or four rows 

 of one variety together, unless experience has shown it to be perfectly 

 self-fertile. 



(2) Where large blocks of trees of one variety which blossomed 

 well have failed to fruit for a series of years without any apparent 

 reason, it is exceedingly probable that the fiiilure is due to lack of 

 cross-pollination. The remedy is to graft in other varieties and sui)- 

 I)ly foreign pollen. 



(3) Be sure that there are sufScient bees in the neighborhood or 

 within two or three miles to properly visit the blossoms. When feasi- 

 ble endeavor to favor insect visits to the blossoms by selecting 

 sheltered situations or by planting windbreaks. 



