126 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



ties of the pear are grown successfully, unless it be on lands too low and wet 

 for fruit culture generally. The best results, however, are on well drained 

 soils; and here at the outset I would like to ask if any one in the South has 

 tried growing the pear on lands artificially drained, either by tiles or other- 

 wise, and, if so, with what results? 



There is a difference in the adaptation of the varieties to diffei;ent soils, 

 while the Duchesse d'Angouleme seems to adapt itself to all soils. The Vi- 

 car of Winkfield, or Le Cure, is a most miserable failure everywhere. A 

 wide field is open here for experiment, and a careful comj^arison of notes by 

 growers in different sections, and on different soils, is necessary to determine 

 the exact status of most kinds. The lack of horticultural societies generally 

 over the South has been a great hinderance here; and it is hoped the meet- 

 ing of this Society, by bringing together prominent growers from different 

 sections, may be of decided benefit in this direction. As far as my observa- 

 tion extends, if I could choose a soil more suited than any other, it would be 

 represented by a fresh piece of land on the Chickasaw bluffs, or line of hills 

 extending from Vicksburg to Natchez, east of the Mississippi river, and 

 where it was not too rolling to admit of cultivation without the soil being 

 soon washed away. Here growth is strong and vigorous, -wood ripens 'well, 

 and fruit well developed in size, appearance and quality. At the same time 

 I have seen fine results on i^ine lands, where there was considerable clay in 

 the subsoil. Next in order comes 



CULTIVATION. 



I believe it is conceded on all hands that all young pear trees should be 

 cultivated, at any rate, up to the point where fruiting begins. Here cultiva- 

 tors differ; some preferring to continue stirring the soil with the plow or 

 spade several times during the growing season, while others would sow in 

 grass, and top-dress with manure during the winter, while still some others 

 would allow the trees to take their chances without manuring. In the 

 opinion of the writer, good judgment would determine a modification of 

 these practices according to circumstances, the end to be gained being vigor 

 sufficient to develop strong, healthy fruit buds, and carry to maturity a fair 

 crop of fruit without an excessive stimulation of Avood growth, which tends 

 to make the tree cast its fruit and become more susceptible to attacks of the 

 blight. In this, soil and variety must be considered together. For instance, 

 a standard Bartlett on rich or strong soil, if highly cultivated, is exceedingly 

 liable to blight ; on a poor soil, uncultivated, it would not have vigor suffi- 

 cient to perfect a full crop of fruit ; per contra, a standard Seckel would be 

 benefited by generous cultivation, on a fair soil, and is a comparative failure 

 on poor soil, even with moderate cultivation, and completely so if unculti- 

 vated. Right here, the seasons too, exert a manifest influence and present 

 sometimes a nice point to the anxious cultivator. If fertilized or cultivated 

 to an extent sufficient to perfect a fair crop of fruit in an average season, and 

 an extremely wet season should occur, the tree may cast its fruit and an ex- 



