216 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



THE TEAR. 



D. B. Wier, of Lacon, of the Ad-Interim, read the following paper 

 on the pear, embracing the substance of his observation and experi- 

 ence during the past season : 



The culture, propagation and diseases of the pear, as an orchard fruit, I have made 

 one of my careful studies for a number of j'ears, but have made but little progress satis- 

 factory to myself, and therefore think I can benefit others but little in giving them the 

 result of my investigations. I have, it is true, adopted a general system, founded on my 

 own theories and observations and the theories and observations of other cultivators, 

 which, in the main, I intend to follow closely. This system, of course, is the one that 

 my judgment tells me is nearest correct, and the one from which I expect the best and 

 most permanent results. Still I do not confine myself to any particular rut ; but make 

 it my duty to practice other systems that appear to me to be radically wrong, with the 

 same energy that I do my favorite method — the true plan when trying to solve any 

 doubtful question. 



I will try to outline, in the fewest possible words, the system by which I hope to make 

 the pear a profitable market fruit on my soil and in my climate, not pretending or giving 

 any hopes that the system will be as good on any other soils or in any other climate, 

 unless similar in all material points. After at least twenty years of close observation, I 

 have come to the conclusion that there are but two varieties of natural soil in the west, 

 upon which I could expect the pear to prove healthy and productive, without too great 

 an outlay in using artificial means. These are our high dry scillicious clays, the con- 

 glomerate or loess clays of our timberland bluffs abounding in lime and iron, for Dwarfs 

 and Standards, (I am well aware that this soil is not suited to the quince roots of the 

 Dwarfs, but by deep working and deep planting they can be well established) and re- 

 sembling high dry sand ridges that are sand or gravel all the way down, having the sur- 

 face composed of a foot or more of light sandy loam for standards. As trees planted on 

 these two different soils require entirely different treatment, I shall speak of them 

 separately. 



First. The clay ridges. These are usually covered by a growth of oak timber, mostly 

 second growth. The land should be cleared by cutting clown the heavy timber and 

 grubbing deeply the stcond growth. The ground should then be plowed a medium 

 depth, harrowed down fine and planted in potatoes, or sown with small grain. The suc- 

 ceeding fall il should be deeply trench plowed. The next spring it will be in fine con- 

 dition for planting. It is best to examine the site carefully, and procure enough stand- 

 ards to plant all the lighter portion of the orchard, and Dwarfs enough to plant the 

 portions containing the most humus. I consider it highly improper to plant Dwarfs and 

 Standards promiscuously in alternate rows, as some have recommended ; for the reason 

 that they require different cultivation and management. I think it the best practice, if 

 the ground was thoroughly trenched plowed the fall before, not to plow it again in the 

 spring, until after the trees are planted. In selecting trees for planting, Dwarfs, one or 

 two years old, and Standards one year from bud or two from root graft are best, though 

 Standards of two years may be used. 



