Story: Stone fruit and the summerfruit industry

Sugared plum blossoms

Sugared plum blossoms

The pollination of fruit trees relies on bees to transfer pollen from flower to flower. Trials carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the mid-1950s showed that spraying flowers with a sugar solution increased the number of bee visits from 6 to 300 within an hour. Consequently, more fruit was produced.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: AANR 6329 28 DA 39 250

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How to cite this page:

Marie Dawkins, 'Stone fruit and the summerfruit industry - History', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18785/sugared-plum-blossoms (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Marie Dawkins, published 24 Nov 2008