98 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



dicarf 2^ear-trees or pear-trees on quince stock be recommended for profitable 

 culture ? What varieties can be recommended to groiu as standards, for profit, 

 and what as dwarf f^ 



Mr. Willard answered: "Yes, on proper soils." Some said: "Yes, if of 

 proper varieties ;" and others answered in the affirmative, provided they re- 

 ceived proper culture. 



Mr. Maxwell would answer the poj-tion of the question relating to dwarfs in 

 the affirmative, if they received proper soils and culture, and were of proper 

 varieties. 



Dr. Sylvester has an orchard of dwarf pears, in grass, which he manures 

 every year, and it has paid him over $500 per acre yearly. His Louise Bonne 

 have averaged $1,000 an acre. It don't cost him more than $10 an acre for 

 manure, while farmers will put $20 worth of manure on an acre of corn. 



Mr. Moody recommended the Beurie d'Anjou and Duchess for growth on 

 quince stocks. 



Mr. Kathbone of Genesee did not think Beurre d'Anjou equal to the Duch- 

 ess, and in his experience it was by no means so fine a grower. 



Dr. Sylvester said the Louise Bonne would grow double the quantity in the 

 same field that the Duchess would. 



Mr. N. Bogue of Batavia read the following statement: Ten years ago last 

 October, Mr. John Taylor of Elba, Genesee county, planted three acres to 

 Dwarf Duchess. The cost of the trees was $500. Estimated cost of prepar- 

 ing ground and setting trees, $200, making, as first cost on the orchard, $700. 

 For the first six years there was no fruit marketed from the orchard. The 

 first crop sold was twenty barrels of choice quality. Three barrels were filled 

 each with 150 pears. This crop brought $10 per barrel, making $200 ; eighth 

 year, 180 barrels at $6, $1,080 ; ninth year, 220 barrels at $5, $1,100 ; this year, 

 204 barrels at $5.50, $1,122. During this time potatoes have been grown in 

 the orchard of sufficient value to pay all expense of culture and rent of 

 ground. Cost of trees and setting, $700; interest on same, $490; total, 

 $1,190. Eeceived from same, $3,502— less $1,190, leaves $2,402, or a profit of 

 $240.20 per year for three acres, or $8G.06 for one acre. Now, this is not all, 

 for the orchard has just begun to bear, and the ratio of profit must be greater 

 as the trees continue to grow. 



Mr. Sharp had two pear orchards, one a success and the other a failure. 

 The cause of the failure was that no cultivation was put upon it. His two 

 orchards taken together, however, were profitable, and more so than raising 

 wheat or any other grain. 



Mr. W. C. Barry said that the trouble with manuring trees was that no judg- 

 ment w'as used. In their grounds no manure was used until the trees gave evi- 

 dence of requiring stimulus. This was then put on in the fall, and is not 

 used again until the trees again look unthrifty. 



Considerable discussion then followed upon the question whether it was or 

 was not profitable to cultivate pear trees in this State. The greater part of 

 the members seemed to think pears would pay if proper judgment was used in 

 regard to soil, varieties and cultivation. 



Mr. Barry said pear culture was a success, if only men knew how to choose 

 the proper mode of treatment. Probably there were but few men in the meet- 

 ing who knew even how to prune a pear tree properly. 



Mr. La Eue thought there arc more failures than success in pear culture 

 60 many trees are destroyed by the blight. One or two gentlemen from Yates 



