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CHAPTER VIII 

 POLLINATION AND FRUIT SETTING 



In many orchards the lack of proper pollination and fer- 

 tilization of the blossoms results in poor crops of fruit. The 

 blossoms of many varieties of fruit will not '^set'' with their own 

 pollen. With such varieties even though weather conditions 

 are satisfactory, poor crops of fruit will result unless provi- 

 sions are made for cross-pollination. 



In some of the older fruit sections where several varieties 

 were often planted in the same orchard, little trouble has ever 

 been experienced with the pollination problem, but in the 

 newer and more recent plantings in the Southern and Western 

 state-s, where solid blocks of one variety have often been 

 planted, lack of proper pollination has frequently been one of 

 the chief causes of poor yields. 



Factors and Operations: 



1. How pollination and fertilization take place. 



2. Self-fruitful and self-unfruitful tree fruits. 



3. Determining need for cross-pollination. 



4. Reviewing the case, 



5. Using bees in cross-pollination. 



6. Treatment of established orchards in need of cross-pollina- 



tion. 



1. How Pollination and Fertilization Take Place. The 



blossoms of the tree fruits — apples, apricots, peaches, pears, 

 plums, cherries, and quinces — considered in this book are her- 

 maphroditic, that is, both stamens and pistils are present in 

 the same flower. The calyx, composed of sepals, and the 

 corolla, composed of the petals, are also present. The pistil 



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