434 REPORT OF THE HorTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
This table shows even better than the former one the equalizing 
effect of water through its thermal stability as compared with the 
rapidity of radiation and absorption of heat from land. 
SUNSHINE AND THE SETTING OF FRUIT. 
Sunny weather is reported at blooming-time in western New 
York in the years 1885, 1887, 1896, 1897 and 1900. In each of 
the above years the sunshine was accompanied by warm, dry 
weather. It is a most significant fact that there were good crops o1 
fruit in all of the years named and that in three of them there 
were record-breaking crops of one or another of the fruits and 
enormous crops of practically all of the tree-fruits. 
When the atmosphere is well warmed and dried by the rays of 
the sun the essential organs develop more quickly and at maturity 
are normal and healthy. Pollen is produced under such conditions 
in greater quantities and has more vitality, while the stigmas show 
a greater amount of the secretion which is necessary for the ger- 
mination of the pollen. The experience of centuries has confirmed 
the value of sunshine in blossoming-time, and has shown the desira- 
bility of a region for fruit growing in which the blossoming-time 
is a season of sunshine. it is only during warm sunny weather that 
insects will work; even cloudiness without rain or cold has a de- 
pressing effect on the energies of insects. The nectar which attracts 
insects seems to be formed in quantities worth seeking only when 
the sun is shining. 
It is true that warm weather and bright sunshine sometimes 
hasten floral expansion so that there is not time for proper cross- 
pollination, but this seldom occurs. Under normal conditions the 
several tree fruits are in blossom until all ovaries are fertilized, the 
dropping of the petals and the withering of the pistils and stamens 
being a sign that fertilization has taken place. 
It 1s an interesting fact that the floral envelope is developed nearly 
as well, with some plants at least, in darkness as in light. Thus, 
lilacs and other flowering shrubs may be and often are forced 
into flower in dark cellars. But in flowers so forced stamens and 
and pistils are diminutive as compared with those which have de~ 
veloped in full sunshine and the pollen is developed in comparatively 
small quantities and but little of it seems plump and perfect, though 
seemingly no tests have been made to ascertain its germinative 
