<table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
<pre>Dear All

The proces of pollination is multisaged requiring everything to be read
within a window of time. If stages are out of sink then pollination is
impaired. Also there are numerous factors that can affect each stage.
Briefly pollen (male) must attach to the stigma (receiving organ for
pollen), a pollen tube forms that burrows down the ovaries and an ovule
(female) is fertilised resulting in the formation of the embryo (Seed
inside the hard pit).

There are several sources of pollen that can carry out this process
¥ Pollen from the same flower attaches to the stigma
¥ Pollen from another flower on the same tree attaches to the stigma
¥ Pollen from a flower of another tree of the same variety attaches to
the stigma
¥ Pollen from a flower of another tree but of a different variety
attaches to the stigma
¥ Pollen from a flower of another tree but of a related species

Using 4-6 varieties in the orchard will ensure plenty of pollen. This
becomes less important in some traditional growing countries because of
the volume of olive growing, many different varieties and the close
proximity of other groves.In Australia there are large distances between
som groves so that using multiple varieties become essential. Generally
oil varieties produce abundant amounts of pollen. eg Frantoio,
Koroneiki.

Stan Kailis
</pre>
</td></tr></table>