FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 73 



heal the wound, but it does preserve the exposed wood and acts as an 

 antiseptic against rot causing fungi. 



If this briefly outlined plan of pruning is properly carried out it will 

 leave the trees in a much more sightly and convenient form to work in. 

 With good spraying and culture it brings an orchard into a condition to 

 bear more, larger, and better colored apples, a result well worth being 

 sought. 



AN IDEAL PEAR ORCHARD. 



H. S. BIRD, LANSING. 



This ideal pear orchard is situated in one of the most wonderful pear 

 producing sections of the world. The rich clay soil, the abundant and 

 timely rains, and the exceptional climate all play their parts. Numerous 

 and well placed shipping stations bring the use of a good refrigerator 

 car service close to every grower. 



The ideal orchard itself consists of one hundred twenty acres of the 

 best of this land. It is divided into six blocks, on five of which are ten 

 year old pear trees. 



As we drove between rows of perfect Bosc, Cornice, and Winter Nellis 

 trees not a single weed was visible. Weekly and often semi-weekly culti- 

 vation had discouraged even the rankest of them. Next we crossed ten 

 acres of beautiful grounds on which were situated the buildings. Be- 

 yond these came the Anjou orchard and twenty acres of as fine Bartletts 

 as were ever grown. 



The owner asked us to visit his fine farm residence and later intro- 

 duced his foreman, a man who had spent his entire life in the pear in- 

 dustry. During our trip through the barns the great advantages of good 

 machinery, thoroughly used, was explained to us. Their two spraying 

 outfits were of the finest and best obtainable, their orchard fruit wagons 

 were shelved and canvas covered. Nothing but spring wagons were found, 

 shelved and canvas covered. Nothing but spring wagons were found. 

 Three big rack wagons were ready to haul the coming crop to town. 



We are next taken to the big bunk house, on the second floor of which 

 were twenty clean comfortable bunks. The room was large, clean, and 

 light. On the floor below were a dining room and a well equipped 

 kitchen. From here we went to the packing shed, the entire second floor 

 of which was piled high with boxes ready for the harvest. 



I saw much of this orchard during the following weeks. At last the 

 Bartletts became full sized and the harvest began. The bunk house was 

 filled with experienced men. for the consideration given them brought 

 many applicants to choose from. 



Pickers were given ten foot orchard step-ladders and picking aprons 

 into which the pears could be placed easily and with no bruising. Only 

 the most careful work was tolerated, yet it is surprising how little 

 trouble there was. 



Lug boxes holding about a bushel without being filled above the level 

 of the top, had been distributed through the orchard. Into these the 

 pears were emptied from the aprons by a method that assured no injury. 

 The orchard wagons then transferred the fruit to the packing shed 



