1 9io.] The Time of Blossoming of Fruit Trees. 35 



Pears. — These were in flower at Wye in 1909 from April 

 26th to May 1 8th, some late flowers lasting till June 1st. The 

 crop was only moderate. The average duration of flowering 

 of 15 varieties was about 14J days; in 1908 it was 17 days. 

 The trees were in full bloom about the seventh day after 

 commencing to flower. 



The approximate order of flowering taken from seven 



records, viz., at Wye in 1908 and 1909; by Mr. F. Ivo Neame 



at Faversham in 1907, 1908, and 1909; Mr. J. Watkins, of 



Hereford, and Mr. F. J. Chittenden, Royal Horticultural 



Society's Gardens, Wisley, in 1908, is as follows : — 



(1) Beurre Hardy, (2) Duchesse d'Angouleme, (3) Beurre" Clairgeau, 

 (4) Beurre Diel, (5) Beurre" Bosc, (6) Marguerite Marrillat, (7) Beurre" 

 Superfin, (8) Williams' Bon Chretien, (9) Durondeau, (10) Jargonelle, 

 Pitmaston Duchess, (12) Catillac, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Souvenir du 

 Congres, Clapp's Favourite, (13) Doyenne" Boussock, (14) Dr. Jules 

 Guyot, Beurre Giffard, (15) Doyenne du Cornice, (16) Marie Louise 

 d'Uccle. 



In pears generally the varieties keep to a definite order of 

 flowering, though some varieties are more constant than, 

 others. Of the kinds which flower early may be men- 

 tioned Beurre Hardy, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre' 

 Clairgeau ; whilst Marie Louise d'Uccle, Clapp's Favourite, 

 and Doyenne du Cornice appear to be always among the 

 latest to flower. Williams' Bon Chretien appears to vary 

 somewhat in its time of flowering relatively to other varieties. 



The average length of time pears were in flower in 1907 

 was 17 J- days, being in full flower on 4J days; in 1908, 

 15 days, being in full flower on 4J days; in 1909, 18 days, 

 being in full flower on the seventh day. 



From experiments in America, and also in England,* it 

 has been shown that many varieties of pear are self-sterile, 

 i.e., the flowers need the pollen of another variety to fertilise 

 them; it would seem to be advisable, therefore, to intermix 

 different varieties in an orchard, rather than to have a very 

 large number of one variety ; it may also be advisable to note, 

 in planting pears, whether the variety is early or late 

 blooming, and plant some trees of a different variety that 

 flowers at the same time so as to insure pollination as com- 

 pletely^ possible. 



* Investigations by Mr. F. J. Chittenden, F.LiS., Royal Horticultural Society 's 

 Journal, xxvii, page cxc, and xxviii, page clxvi. 



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