trtnfn- Hfcrlhia;. 415 



As in the case of the other fruits, one must exercise the greatest 

 care not to overfeed with nitrogen, which over-stimulates the vegetative 

 tendencies of the tree, belating and minimizing the fruitfulness, besides 

 such . fruit as is produced is lacking in color and flavor and- is much 

 more liable to the attacks of fungus diseases. 



FEEDING THE PEAR. 



The dwarf varieties require better cultivation, more uniform and 

 heavy fertilization than do the standard sorts, for the reason that the 

 quince roots upon which they are grown feed from a much more re- 

 stricted root area and near the surface, in proportion to the wood growth 

 they make and the fruit they bear. It is self-evident also that the ferti- 

 lizer should be applied nearer the tree than in the standard sorts. 



In fertilizing the pear, however, it should be remembered that the 

 permitting of a rank growth through the supply of a liberal quantity of 

 available nitrogen makes the tree much more subject to blight and 

 leaves the wood in such a condition that this disease is particularly fatal. 



This has led to the very common practice of planting pears on 

 relatively close, thin land, giving very limited cultivation, oftentimes 

 none at all, and keeping the tree in what is commonly considered a half 

 starved condition, so as to develop a wood that is resistant to the 

 attacks of this disease. It is for the practical grower to determine in 

 either case which of these policies he shall pursue. 



HOW TO TELL WHAT SORT OF FERTILIZER THE ORCHARD NEEDS. 



After all that is said and done, the only way to determine accurately 

 what a bearing orchard on a given soil needs is to try it, and under 

 ordinary circumstances it will be necessary to continue this experiment 

 over a considerable length of time. Certainly it would not be sufficient 

 to apply the fertilizers in the spring and expect a full and profitable re- 

 turn in the crop that same season. It is possible that the influence of 

 this application may not manifest itself for two or three years, and it 

 may continue to exert an influence for five or six years. 



The best plan, therefore, would be to repeat the application at the 

 end of about the third year, taking special pains to note the difference in 

 the growth and vigor of the trees under each treatment, the color of the 

 leaves and the amount, size, color and soundness of the fruit. 



It will not be sufficient, however, to trust to one's eye to determine 

 the difference in the yield of fruit. A difference of 25 per cent may be 



