100 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



county, Mr. Ely of Rochester, and some others thought the numerous failures 

 from blight very discouraging to pear culture. 



Mr. Willard declared that nothing had been offered to prove that pears on a 

 proper soil, with proper culture, and with proper varieties, are a failure. 



Thursday's session. 



The president, P. Barry, in the chair. The president announced the pres- 

 'ence of Mr. J. J. Harrison of Paiuesville, Ohio, delegate from the Ohio Pomo- 

 logical Society. 



The discussion of the third question was resumed. 



Mr. !Moody of Lockport said many failures arose from selecting poor ground. 

 They want good culture and dry ground; in such a case he thinks pears can 

 be grown as cheaply as apples, and with as good profit. 



Mr. Chapin said his five acres on wet land were successful, yielding good 

 crops, while the balance of the thirty acres on good wheat land failed. 



President Barry would not recommend pear culture in the way it is gener- 

 ally done, but it must be done in the right way. Farmers must cultivate their 

 crops properly to succeed, and so must pear culturists. Land must be dry. 

 Can be drained from 850 to 860 an acre. In 1865 they planted five acres of 

 select varieties, mostly late. They stood in nurser}^ surrounded by nursery 

 stock, and received no extra culture. About half of the trees were Lawrence ; 

 remainder Bosc, Anjou, Clairgeau, etc. They have borne for several years, and 

 bore last year a good cwp of fair fruit. Clairgeau ahead in productiveness ; 

 Lawrence produced nearly half the fruit; is a moderate, uniform bearer. We 

 are remarkably well situated for fruit culture, being within ten or twelve 

 hours of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, the best markets on the conti- 

 nent. How much better situated in this respect than California ! 



Fourth question — " Woiild it ie advisiUe for societies or individuals inter- 

 ested in pear cnlture to comline in offering a large reward for the discovery 

 of the cause of the disease knowti as j^ear blight, and a practical remedy for 

 the same?'' 



Mr. Smith thought the blight was growing less. He proposed that a pre- 

 mium should be offered some scientific man to investigate the "pear blight." 

 Too high culture, he thought, would increase the blight. 



Mr. Bronson said his experience confirmed Mr. Smith in his assertion that 

 high culture would increase the blight. 



Mr. Barry said manure should be applied as a top dressing in the ftill : 

 plowing in he considered dangerous. 



Dr. Sylvester gave his experience of a remedy for the blight, — diluted car- 

 bolic acid, — which he had used for three years. He thought the infection was 

 carried by the saw from tree to tree. He therefore directed the saw to be 

 wiped off with carbolic acid. He thought we might find in this a remedy, 

 though we do not know the cause of the disease. Uses one ounce of crystals 

 to a gallon of water, applying with a swab to stump of limb. 



Mr. Thomas said he had done nothing, and his trees had not been affected 

 by the blight. 



Thomas Wright had a tree which blighted, all but a sprout, Avhicli he saved 

 by cutting off the rest. Since had done well. 



