702 
Cross-fertilisation of Cereals. 
ent flower on the same tree, or from another tree, was applied 
to the pistil of the same variety no frnit was produced ; but 
when the pollen from another variety of pear was applied good 
well-formed fruit was produced. The varieties Anjou and Winter 
Nelis were also unable to fertilise themselves, though they pro- 
duced fruit when crossed with the Bartlett pollen, as the Bartlett 
did when crossed with their pollen. Mr. Waite, who had charge 
of the experiments, tentatively concludes that (1) most 
varieties of cultivated pears and apples require cross-fertilisation 
for successful fruiting ; (2) insects are the agents in cross- 
fertilising these plants ; (3) the weather when the bloom is 
open influences the visits of insects, and consequently the cross- 
fertilisation. Some pears are self-fertilised, but when dealing 
with varieties in which this is not the case the orchard should 
contain varieties which freely cross-fertilise, and care should be 
taken that the different varieties planted together should ripen at 
the same time. 
William Carruthers. 
THE TRIALS OF SELF-BINDING 
HARVESTERS AT CHESTER. 
The trials of Self-binding Harvesters that took place at the 
end of July last in the neighbourhood of Chester, for the sub- 
stantial prizes of 50 1., 30/., and 20/., offered for “ the best 
Self-binding Harvester using other binding material than wire,” 
were the fourth of the series of competitions held under the 
auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society, since self-binding 
harvesters came within the range of practical mechanics. 
Of Reaping Machines that were not self-binding, the 
Society had held quite a number of trials 1 since Mr. Philip 
1 The official reports on the various trials of Reaping Machines and Self- 
binders held by the Society, since 1852, will be found in the following volumes 
of the Journal : 
.Leives, 1852, Yol. XIII. p. 304 (IT. S. Thompson). 
^ Gloucester, 1853, Yol. XIV p. 366 (C. E. Amos). 
Lincoln, 1854, Yol. XV. p. 367 (Anthony Hamond). 
Carlisle, 1855, Yol. XVI. pp. 509, 525 (T. Fisher Hobbs). 
Chelmsford, 1856, Yol. XVII. p. 577 (W. Spencer Cavendish). 
Salisbury, 1857, Yol. XVIII. pp. 423, 445 (C. Wren Hoskyns). 
Canterbury, 1860, Vol. XXI. pp. 490, 511 (IT. B. Caldwell) 
Leeds, 1861, Yol. XXII. p. 458 (H. B. Caldwell). 
Plymouth, 1865, Yol. I. (2nd Series), pp. 375, 383 (John Coleman). 
Manchester, 1869, Vol. V. pp. 530, 532 (Sir Edward Kerrison). 
Birmingham, 1876, Yol. XII. p. 596 (Jabez Turner), and Yol. XIII. 
p. 246 (John Algernon Clarke). 
