326 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETi^. 



PEARS. 



While many commercial pear-growers taake a specialty of some one 

 variety that seems particularly suited to their soil or method of handling, 

 others select such sorts as will give them a succession throughout 

 the season, and as a rule they will be about the same as would be 

 planted for family use. Pear trees are known as standards or dwarfs, the 

 difference being due to the kind of root upon which they have been 

 worked; in one case they are budded upon seedling pear stocks while, in 

 the other, quince stocks have been used. Dwarfs are seldom used in com- 

 mercial orchards although, if the branches are cut in annually, so that they 

 will correspond with the area of the roots, and the trees are given plenty 

 of plant food and thorough cultivation, they will be found quite profitable. 



Reference to the " value " column of the pear list will show that the 

 Bartlett and Anjou stand high in the estimation of fruitgrowers, both of 

 them receiving double stars in every section of the state. The first is a 

 well-known sort that succeeds everywhere, but the other is not so well- 

 known. It grows and fruits well, both as a standard and a dwarf, and is 

 one of the most valuable sorts both for home use and market. 



The varieties that come next in general favor are Bosc, Clapp's Favorite, 

 Flemish Beauty, Howell, Seckel, and Sheldon. The Bosc stands very close 

 to the Anjou as a variety for either home use or market; coming 

 between that variety and Bartlett, it is well worthy of a place upon every 

 list. Clapp's Favorite is liable to rot at the core unless it is picked early 

 and ripened in a warm room; while a productive variety, it is not as valu- 

 able as the kinds above mentioned, and although a few trees may be desir- 

 able it is not worthy of extensive planting. Flemish Beauty succeeds well 

 in some localities and contests with the Bartlett for supremacy in its 

 season. In other sections it is so subject to scab and cracking that it is 

 not appreciated. With a proper use of Bordeaux mixture, fairly good 

 results can be obtained with this sort in nearly all localities. 



The Howell is one of the most desirable of autumn pears for market, in 

 particular, and is worthy of a place upon the list for home use. The 

 Seckel and Sheldon are well-known and valuable varieties, but they require 

 (the Seckel particularly) thorough cultivation and high manuring if large, 

 perfect fruits are to be obtained. Onondaga in some respects resembles 

 Bartlett, but it is later and a good market sort. Lawrence follows Anjou 

 and is excellent for early winter use. 



Of the varieties particularly desirable for market sorts are Kieffer and 

 Clairgeau. In the southern part of the state these varieties, when well 

 ripened, have a ready sale for cooking purposes and have been found quite 

 profitable. 



The Angouleme (Duchess) has quite generally been given two stars, and 

 when grown as a dwarf it is certainly worth planting, as the fruit is large, 

 of fair quality, and produces in abundance. The Louise Bonne is another 

 sort that should always be grown as a dwarf, while Anjou, Bosc, Howell, 

 and Seckel do well that way. ♦ 



Of the other varieties that are worth a place in the list, Boussock, 

 Buffum, Josephine of Malines, Lawrence, Lucrative, Madeleine, Onondaga, 

 Osband, Sterling, Stevens' Genesee, Sumner Doyenne, Tyson, Vicar, and 

 Winter Nelis are most valuable. As a list that gives a succession through 

 the season the following is submitted: Sumner Doyenne, Sterling, Clapp's 



