TREATMENT OF PEAR-TREES. 83 



I prune my trees a good deal, almost mutilate them, keep- 

 ing them stocky and short, except when growing them for 

 wood, and not fruiting. I prune usually in the spring, but 

 sometimes in the fall. Think fall the best, on account of 

 snows and storms having less of the tree to act on : the tree 

 then knows just what to work on in the spring. 



I have lost two trees by blight : the trees dry up and die. 

 I keep red spiders off with soap or potash, and put bar-soap 

 in the crotches of the trees, and let it gradually waste away 

 all summer. I found some left when picking this fall. 



In regard to the most profitable pear-trees to set out, that 

 depends upon kinds, location, whether to eat or sell, &c. I 

 have both dwarf and standard Duchesse, and the standard 

 is not to be comjDared with the dwarf ; but the dwarf is from 

 France, the standard common. I pick my pears when the 

 stem will break off in the right place with a moderate degree 

 of force, such as Seckel, Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jersey, 

 Clapp's Favorite, Belle Lucrative, Rostiezer, and Tyson. 

 The Duchesse I gather the first week in October, and they 

 ripen from October to Christmas. I keep my pears cold, 

 dark, and dry. 



I get iron-dust from machine-shops, and dig in around the 

 trees, as one would dig in guano ; rub soap all over the trunk, 

 and keep the tree propped up. I think I lost one tree by its 

 leaning over with fruit three years in succession (a Passe 

 Colniar). It seemed to tear the small roots off. 



[Keply of M. B. Kenney, M.D., of La'wrence.] 



I exhibited pears raised on a mixed sandy loam, enriched 

 once in two or three years with sink-deposits spread on the 

 surface. I prune off about half the previous year's growth 

 in the spring. 



My Vicars, Rostiezers, and Buffums have suffered badly 

 with the blight. My other varieties have not been touched 

 by it. A radical cutting is all that I have tried, and have 

 saved some of them, although much injured of course. 



The most profitable trees to set out, I think, are standards. 

 We don't get the fruit so quickly ; but they have a longer 

 life, and are just as sure to bear a crop as the dwarf. 



