FLOWERS AND POLLINATION 



Alone this bears excellent fruit, but planted with its 

 proper variety, it bears fruit that is finer still. 



Self- sterility is not always constant, a variety that 

 has shown it in one place sometimes not developing 

 it in another. This is owing to climatic and soil con- 

 ditions probably, the plant doubtless being better 

 adapted to those conditions which do not develop it. 



A self-sterile variety sometimes sets fruit which it 

 fails to mature. Thus a whole orchard that is in per- 

 fect health and well cared for, may blossom freely, set 

 fruit, and then drop it when it is not more than half 

 grown. New trees of the same variety added to the 

 orchard will not improve the situation, but trees of some 

 other variety — and it must be the right one — will bring 

 the whole orchard into vigorous bearing. There must 

 be an afhnity between the two however, as well as sim- 

 ultaneous ripening of anthers and pistils so that cross- 

 pollination may take place. Just what this actual 

 affinity is for any given variety, only experiment will 

 determine, ordinarily; the Department of Agriculture 

 is the best help, in this as in all other knotty problems. 



Some varieties of ornamental flowers — if we may 

 so distinguish the garden favorites — hybridize so freely 

 that experienced gardeners keep them strictly isolated 

 if they are deshous of keeping the strain pure. Colum- 

 bines are one of these, separate species mixing and 

 varying constantly if planted together. Flowers of 

 variegated colors are probably the result of cross- 

 pollination — and of course the beautiful hybrids of 

 plant breeders are produced by this method. 



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