POLLINATION OF 
FRUIT TREES 
All fruit varieties are classed as self-fruitful; parti- 
ally self-fruitful or self-unfruitful due to poor pollen. 
As a rule, if a specie is a good pollinator for one 
variety, it is a desirable cross for any other variety of 
the same fruit family. For instance, a Delicious makes 
an excellent pollinator planted with a McIntosh or other 
apple varieties. But, a specie of one family will never 
pollinate a specie of another family, such as an apple 
planted with a pear tree. 
The lack of cross-pollination in a self-sterile variety, 
results in the dropping off of the young fruit and in 
crop failure. Partial self-fruitful trees may cause fruit 
to remain on the tree for a longer period of time, or 
even carry through until harvest, but poorly pollinated 
fruits are usually imperfect. In most cases, a fruit tree 
is benefited by cross-pollination with another compatible 
sort of the same family. The results are better crops. 
Plant trees within a 50 ft. radius to take care of pollina- 
tion distance. 
To guide the grower whose planting must be limited, 
we have indicated by symbols, certain varieties best 
suited to your needs. 
APPLE—Varieties may be classified as self-fruitful or 
self-unfruitful. General experience has been that 
cross-pollination will usually result in better crops. 
Cortland, Delicious, Rome, Yellow Delicious, Jona- 
than and Wealthy, make excellent pollinators and 
can be used to set fruit for early, medium or late 
varieties. 
PEARS—Nearly all common pear varieties require cross- 
pollination with the exception of a few species. All 
pear varieties bear excellent pollen and have proven 
effective pollinizers for each other. However, the 
Bartlett and Seckel varieties are inter-sterile and 
should never be planted together, unless a third 
variety is provided, so proper fertilization can occur. 
PLUMS—vary in their needs for cross-pollination ac- 
cording to specie and variety. Our plum varieties 
represent two distinct types; namely, the European 
and Japanese. Nearly all plum varieties require 
cross-pollination to fruit. These two species do not 
inter-cross freely. Hence, it is necessary to plant at 
least two European or two Japanese sorts together 
to insure a crop of fruit. Each sort is indicated by 
an “E” or “J” to help you distinguish the European 
or Japanese species. 
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