White Bluffs Spokesman

APPLE POLLINATION

There seems to be no question but what there are orchards of both Winesaps and Delicious which do not seem to self-pollinize, although there does seem to be an occasional orchard where the owner does not have trouble with this problem. Studies in the Wenatchee section seems to show a more or less general lack of self-pollinization, however, on the part of these two varieties.

The use of bees in the orchard undoubtedly helps materially in pollinizing trees of other varieties. Wherever growers can get a few stands of bees for the orchard this should be good economical practice, unless farmers living near may have stands of their own.

An orchard on the Kennewick highlands which was planted to Jonathans one-third of the way across the orchard from the west end and the remaining two-thirds being Winesaps had produced a very light crop on the third of the orchard on the east of that furthest removed from the Jonathans. Last year the party handling this orchard cut branches from Jonathans and hung them in buckets on the east third of the orchard and this third produced a good crop for the first time since a Rome block was taken out right next to this orchard some seven years ago. This method of cutting bouquets and hanging them in the trees during the blossoming period offers quick relief for this pollination need. Eventually it probably would be well to graft in a few trees a section such as this, pollinizing varieties.

The Jonathan, the Rome Beauty, Winter Banana, Arkansas Black, may all be used as pollinizers for the Winesaps and Delicious.