R. M. KELLOGG S GREAT CROPS OF 
PHYSICAL CULTURE. 
(SEE PA6B 5,) 
The physical development of plants both in fruit and foliage is a matter of well 
directed manipulation, and is engaging: the attention of scientists throughout the land. 
On what does the production of large 
crops of fruit depend? — On the physical con- 
dition of the plants and their natural habit of breed- 
ing though fruit buds instead of wood buds or run- 
ners, and tlien assisting the plant to do its work by 
supplying proper food and thorough tillage. 
Are plants male and female?— Yes, the 
sexual organs found in their blossoms are identical 
with all the parts named in an animal and fecundat- 
ion takes place between them in a similiar way. 
Do plants have the breeding passions 
possessed by animals? — Yes. It is even more 
intense than with animals. If plants are not 
pruned, thus relieving them of a part of their fruit 
buds, they will fruit themselves into impotency or 
what in an animal would be called seminal ex- 
haustion. 
How Is this condition manifested? — You 
often see a field of strawberries or bush fruits on 
good rich land with plants or bushes in a vigorous 
condition, but they produce very Uttle fruit. While 
it is true that soil conditions and food supplies are 
factors of great importance, yet the chief cause of 
their unfruitfulness is the lack of potency in pollen 
and weakness of pistils. 
Will you give some illustrations of this? 
— Notice that when apple trees bloom very full — 
white as snow — when every twig is loaded with 
blossoms very little fruit sets and what does grow 
is small and inferior in quality. This is because 
the tree does not have the ability to impart potency 
or life to so much pollen. Our largest crops of fine 
fruit are grown when we have moderate bloom or 
the trees have been restricted by close pruning 
before blossoms open in the spring. They can 
then concentrate their _powers on fewer blossoms, 
the potency of pollen is strong and the seeds are 
vigorous, with consequent full development of fruit 
flesh. This is why the successful orchardist prunes 
his trees and vines every year, cutting oft a large 
part of the buds. Everybody knows that un- 
Eruned orchards, vineyards or fruit bushes quickly 
ecome uufruitful. 
