ti2 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



feet, even-size fruit in kegs holding one bushel, with my brand on and 

 card inside; and the imperfect, smaller-size in bushel baskets. In this 

 way I have been able to get fancy prices for the select, getting calls for 

 them from all over the west and south. But a few weeks since, I received 

 a letter from a man in Georgia saying he had had several kegs of my pears, 

 and inquiring if I could not ship direct to him. 



I mention this as an illustration of a very important point in the profit- 

 able growing of pears for market, and it is equally applicable to all fruits. 



We should so grade and put up our best fruits that they will sell them- 

 selves. If we would do this we would not hear the question so often 

 asked, where do you find a market for so much fruit? 



In conclusion I will say, I have never had enough of this class of fruit 

 to fill all orders. 



EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS. 



Replying to a question, Mr. Stearns said he would add the Clapp as a 

 pear succeeding fairly on the lighter soils, but would not plant many of 

 them. He finds no profit in Kieffer — can not sell it. 



Mr. Evart H. Scott of Ann Arbor: I had fifty-nine barrels of Kieffer 

 from 100 six-year-old trees and they brought $3 per barrel. I have some 

 still in my cellar and find them better in quality than I supposed they 

 would be, considering what the pear is at the south. What I have seen 

 from there were worthless. I have ripened the Kieffer the last three 

 years on clay; I think it better when the fruit is small. But I do not 

 consider it good nor think it will ripen each year in Michigan. 



Mr. Rice: It has done first-rate at Port Huron in sandy soil. 



Mr. Stearns: It is excellent for canning or pickling. 



Mr. Gulley: It is worthless at the Agricultural college. 



Mr. L. W. Wilton: What fertilizers are best for pears V 



Mr. Stearns-. Mainly ashes, but some barnyard manure for the dwarfs. 

 Use of salt helps to retain moisture in the soil. Coal ashes are of no use. 

 I would advise the forming of low heads for standard pears. The first I 

 set, 800, were headed high and now can not be lowered. The low heads 

 are more convenient in spraying and in harvesting and they sustain less 

 injury from winds and sun. I would head standards at three feet and 

 dwarfs at one. There is no known cure for blight. Eradication is the 

 only effectual way of dealing with it. Cut one foot below the lowest 

 appearance of blight. 



Mr. Scott thought coal ashes useful on heavy soil, keeping it porous and 

 therefore cool. 



Mr. W. F. Bird of Ann Arbor: How do you manage broken limbs? 



Mr. Stearns: Start a new bud and head in on the opposite side, to keep 

 the tree symmetrical. 



