Vermont State Horticultural Society 35 



the disease to be sure and get all that is affected. It is best also 

 to disinfect the saw or knife after each cut. Then, if we do not 

 always cut low enough, we avoid spreading it still more in the 

 next cut. 



Now it is easy to understand why an open top is desirable, 

 for, if the tree was allowed to retain its leader and if blight 

 should strike it, all above the point of attack would be lost. 

 Whereas in the open top only one of the main branches is lost. 



Fortunately pear blight is least destructive in New England 

 and Northern New York, and strange to say this is the only sec- 

 tion of the country where pears are not raised commercially to 

 any extent. So it would seem that right here in Vermont is a 

 golden opportunity for some young man who has a liking for 

 this particular branch of fruit growing. 



INCREASING THE FERTILITY OF THE SOIL. 



T. B. Te;rRY of OHIO. 



What I shall say tonight about improving the soil for agri- 

 cultural or farming purposes, will, of course, be applicable to 

 all growers of fruit. You are all interested in having the soil 

 rich and fertile. That is the foundation of successful agricul- 

 ture all over this country. Perhaps you haven't noticed it so 

 much as I have. For 23 years now I have traveled all over the 

 country, from Georgia to Minnesota, from Maine to Delaware, 

 and all over the West, — for 20 years I was not home a whole 

 week throughout the winter. I never sought this work ; it has 

 always sought me, and I have noticed some things wherever I 

 go. Where the land is rich and fertile, I find the farmers are 

 prospering and not complaining, if they are any sort of busi- 

 ness managers ; but I can tell you of thousands and thousands 

 of farmers who work just as hard, just as faithfully, and at the 

 end of the year haven't a cent to show for it. What is the 

 trouble? The lack of fertility in the land. They can't raise as 

 large crops and can't make as much money. The last institute 

 at which I spoke, over 1400 miles from here, I had precisely the 

 same two subjects given me as I have here. They are all in- 

 terested in the fertility of the land. My life experience has been 

 right along this line, as many of you know. 



Thirty-six years ago, my wife and I bought and moved on 

 to a farm that had been run out by previous owners and renters, 



