Winter Meeting. 311 



more or less all winter, and so we seldom ever lose a tree by fall 

 planting. 



Time to Gather — Most varieties should be picked before they 

 color on the tree and placed in a dark place, which should be kept 

 dry and cool, where they ripen, and are much nicer in this way. 



The Keiffer being an exception, should remain on the tree as 

 late as possible, then gathered and ripened as other pears. 



The possibilities of the pear are great; for instance, take a 

 location such as I have described where land is cheap, and, with 

 reasonable care, one should be in easy circumstances in a few years, 



I have planted Dwarf trees one spring and gathered ripe fruit 

 off of them the next, thus getting returns as quick as with a straw- 

 berry crop. 



Kinds of Trees — As to Standard and Dwarf, I would plant 

 half and half, as the Dwarf gives quicker returns and the Standard 

 are longer lived. 



Distance Apart — The trees should be planted about twenty 

 feet apart each way, and to make the tree more fertile, I would 

 suggest the plan of planting two rows of one variety then two of 

 another, as I believe in the idea of cross fertilization. 



Cause of Blight — While to my knowledge there is no known 

 cause of blight, my observation has been that during the last two 

 cool, rainy seasons there has been a great deal more blight than 

 usual, but that may come partially from the trees being older. 



The pear should be headed back each season, the same as the 

 apple, peach and other fruits. 



FIRST FIVE YEARS, AND EARLY CARE OF AN APPLE OR- 



. CHARD. 



(By K. B. Wilkersoii, Mexico, Mo.) 



The selection or location is the foremost thought. Any up-land 

 that grows good corn should grow a good orchard, but there may be 

 exceptions to this. In selecting a location for the family orchard, 

 look for conveniences as much as other conditions, but in the loca- 

 tion for a commercial orchard you want land above the average and 

 just so the surface water will drain off. Rough, hilly land, that 

 washes badly, I am always ready to let the other fellow have, and 

 particularly if there is much clay ; but where the land has a gravelly 

 and sandy loam, it can be utilized to advantage. I have planted in 

 the swampy prairie, the stumpy ne^\' ground and the rocky hill- 



