414 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



may be mixed with the surface soil annually, and one pint of 

 guano dug into the surface to the depth of two or three inches, 

 in the autumn, will be found greatly to increase the growth 

 and fruitfulness of the tree ; this for trees of five or six feet, 

 for smaller ones in proportion. 



The tree is now planted in soil trenched to the depth of 

 three feet and the diameter of three feet. As soon as the 

 roots have extended to the verge of the dug ground, dig a 

 trench round the tree outside the roots one spade in width and 

 to the same depth as before, manuring also as before, and re- 

 peat this annually until the whole ground is trenched. It is 

 better, however, to trench the whole ground at once, if con- 

 venient, but if not, the mode we suggest will be found to be 

 perfectly successful. 



If very large specimens are desired, cover the ground about 

 the tree in the autumn with five or six inches of horse manure, 

 and water with guano in the summer, — two pounds to the bar- 

 rel of water will be enough, — and thin out all inferior fruit. 



The cultivator will find the best remedy against sun blight in 

 training his trees in pyramidal form, the low branches shading 

 the stem from the ardent heat of the summer sun. But this 

 blight sometimes occurs in winter, and generally upon the trunk 

 of the tree. If the trunk or stem be not protected by its own 

 branches, it is best to shade it by evergreen branches, or by 

 narrow strips of board put into the ground on the south side 

 of the tree. Sheltered places are best for the pear, as the 

 tender leaves are sometimes injured by high winds, and the 

 fruit shaken off. 



Your committee suggest the following list of varieties for 

 cultivation, which, though by no means complete, will, it is be- 

 lieved, give satifaction to the cultivator. 



For Summer. — Madalene, Bloodgood, Dearborn's Seedling, 

 Rostiezer, English Jargonelle. 



Fall Pears. — Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, Flemish Beauty, 

 Seckel, St. Michael's, Urbaniste, Beurre Diel, Louise Bonne de 

 Jersey, Vicar of Winkfield, and Duchesse d'Angouleme. 



Winter Pears. — Winter Nelis, Passe Colmar, and Beurre 

 d'Aremberg. 



E. W. Bull, Chairman, pro tern. 



