WINTER MEETING. 225- 



where pears could be grown safely, surely, and afford not only a good and honest 

 living but an ample reward to any one energetic enough to try. Nor does it re- 

 quire a great capital to start a pear-orchard ; a few dozen pear-trees and one dozen 

 quinces for raising plants to be budded is all that is necessary. 



How to handle, gather, assort, pack and market the fruit has been treated 

 exhaustively before and will not be repeated here to the detriment of your precious 

 time. 



DISCUSSION. 



E. J. Bagby — I think we had better leave the Longworth alone. 

 It has been given up where tried in Central Illinois. It drops from the 

 tree before it matures. 



L. A. Goodman — I think hundreds of trees have blighted and 

 failed in MissDuri, because they were upon LeOonte roots. 



S. Miller — I would not let a man plant trees with LeConte roots 

 upon my grounds. If I had them growing upon my grounds I would 

 dig them up. Of eleven trees planted some years ago I have not a 

 vestige left. 



Mr. Gilbert— How can we tell by looking at the trees what kind of 

 roots they have ? 



Mr. Bagby — No reputable nurseryman will sell trees in this State 

 upon LeConte stocks. 



Mr. Gilbert — But how is the buyer to tell by the trees themselves f 

 All nurserymen may not be reputable. 



Mr. Goodman — The LeConte roots have a few long prongs almost 

 without fibers. We have a great many poor men in the State who 

 don't want to be humbugged. They depend upon the reports of this 

 Society for information. 



Mr. Polster — We have LeConte pear trees from Pary of New Jer- 

 sey six or seven years old and no blight. 



Mr. Goodman — [ can't explain. It is the only favorable report I 

 ever had of the LeConte. 



Mr. Bagby — We have tried it upon Japan, French, and its own 

 roots. It is reported unfavorably everywhere. 



Mr. Goodman — I call your attention to another matter : fertiliza- 

 tion of the bloom of the pear. Some varieties fail to fertilize them- 

 selves. It is well to plant a number of varieties near together, so that 

 they can fertilize each other. I know trees 10 or 12 years old in 

 orchards that have never fruited. Keiffer and Garber are said to be 

 self-fertilizing. 



S. Miller — As to the quality of the Garber : . I believe I was the 

 first to fruit it in this State. I did not consider it better than the 

 Keiffer. Now, I will take that back since I have learned how to pro- 

 perly ripen the Keiffer. The Garber is three or four weeks earlier than 

 H— 15 



