‘: 
3 

New Yorx AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 635 
It appears, then, that in considering the unfruitfulness of 
grapes and pears a new factor must be taken into account, since 
it has been shown that a failure to fruit may sometimes be the 
result of the inability of the blossoms to set fruit of themselves. 
We have also seen that there is some reason for believing that 
this cause of unfruitfulness is not peculiar to pears and grapes 
only, but that possibly it extends to other varieties of fruits as 
well. This brings us to the consideration of a subject that is 
coming more and more to be esteemed of a great practical 
importance to fruit. growing, namely: The fertilization of flowers 
in orchards and vineyards, especially in its relation to the pro- 
duction of fruit. | 
Parts of a Flower. 
First, it may be well to illustrate, or define briefly, the mean- 
ing of a few botanical terms which are convenient to use in a 
discussion of this subject. 
In general the flowers of orchard and garden fruits are what 
botanists call perfect — that is, they contain both the male and 
female organs. The male organs produce an abundance of fine 
yellow powder called pollen. The female organs, called pistils 

Fie. 1.— Imperfect Strawberry Blossom.: Fig. 2.— Perfect Strawberry Blossom. 
contain the rudimentary seeds. These parts are well illustrated 
in the accompanying figures of the strawberry blossom. The 
outer green leaves of the blossom and the inner white ones of 
more delicate texture protect the organs in the center of the 
flower till they are fully developed. Then the flower opens and 
the showy white leaves help to attract insect visitors, which 
