618 Report or Horticutturist or ExpERIMENT STATION. 
orchard, but this does not necessarily prove that. the reason for 
its unfruitfulness when isolated is for lack of proper pollination 
of its blossoms, for it usually happens that it has much better 
care in the orchard where it becomes some one’s business to look 
after its welfare than it has when standing alone where it is apt 
to be somewhat neglected. In making comparisons of this kind 
ali conditions which may influence the fruitfulness of the plant 
eught to be taken into consideration, and conclusions should be 
drawn only from*carefully conducted experiments. 
In conclusion it*should be said that this essay presents simply 
a contribution to our knowledge of the fertilization of grape 
biossoms. As yet but little is known concerning the fertilization 
of flowers in orchards and vineyards, a subject which presents a 
wide field for investigation and promises to careful workers 
results of great practical importance to horticulture. 
Since it is true that some varieties of fruits come into favor 
while growing in mixed plantations and afterward bring disap- 
pointment and loss when relying on such records they are set in 
extensive plantations by themselves, then before isolating a 
variety in large plantations it is the part of wisdom to learn 
whether or not it is capable of fruiting satisfactorily by itself. 
On the other hand, the knowledge that in some instances 
isolation of a variety is a cause of unfruitfulness should not 
meite us to attribute to,this cause the many experiences with 
unfruitful trees or vines that have lightened our purses in years 
past, making of it a scapegoat on whose devoted head we solemnly 
lay all our sins of omission and commission in our treatment of 
the orchard or vineyard. While we know that this is a possible 
cause of unfruitfulness, we shouldbe none the less careful to 
employ all other means conducive to the development of vigorous, 
fruitful plants which the science and art of horticulture have | 
placed at our command, such as a study of the adaptation of 
different varieties to different soils and climates, the cultivation 
and fertilization of the soil, pruning, thinning the fruit and spray- 
ing for the prevention of fungous diseases or for the destruction 
of insect pests. 

