PROFITS OF PEAR CULTURE. 197 



constantly improving facilities for getting, the fruit to market, 

 even from the more distant parts of the State, let the farmer 

 take courage and plant apple-trees even though he may not 

 live to gather the harvests. Such orchards judiciously planted, 

 and in such locations as we have suggested well cared for, 

 we believe will prove a profitable investment in spite of all the 

 obstacles that lie in the way. We have enemies to contend 

 with, plant what crop we will. 



We cannot be sure of perfect success in any department. 

 We wish to remark, as we leave this branch of the subject, 

 that more care should be exercised in the selection of varieties, 

 so that the crop will be more uniform, and thus if possible 

 avoid extreme prices. As we remember the many acres of land 

 from which the wood has been stripped and that are now com- 

 paratively unproductive, let us hope these may be covered with 

 flourishing orchards of apple-trees, whose boughs shall bend 

 beneath their load of red and golden fruit. 



PEAR CULTURE. 



On the subject of pear culture we have little to offer. A 

 great many trees have been planted during the past twenty 

 years that are now coming into bearing, and the markets are 

 likely to be well supplied with this excellent fruit. After long 

 experience and careful observation we are led to believe that a 

 pear orchard planted on suitable land and well cared for will 

 prove a fair investment. The money will pay for a term of 

 years — say thirty to fifty, the life-time of the trees — seven to ten 

 per centum. 



Once we thought pear culture even more profitable. Only 

 the very best fruit brings a high price, and the very poor is 

 wholly lost, as poor pears are not salable. We would not dis- 

 courage the planting of pear-trees. Let every owner of a gar- 

 den plant for his own use, if no more. If one has a soil or 

 location or both peculiarly adapted to this fruit and can afford 

 to wait, then plant pear-trees. 



In planting orchards we do not advise the setting of many 

 varieties ; six to ten is all any person should set who intends to 

 grow them for profit, and leave the planting of hundreds of 

 varieties to pomologists, who wish to try all that are originated. 



