418 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



PEAR TREES. 



SHALL WE PLANT DWARFS, OR STANDARDS? 



BY B. HATHEWAY, LITTLE PRAIRIE ROXDE, CASS CO., MICH. 



Owing to the more trying character of our climate, and, 

 perhaps, other causes in connection, the pear does not do as 

 well, generally, throughout the West as at the East, especially 

 in the St?,tes bordering on the seaboard. 



For the same reason here, any weakness of trees, whether 

 constitutional or produced by wrong methods of propagation, 

 culture, or pruning, will be more certain to manifest itself. 



While in some few localities the pear as a dwarf may be 

 found to sncceed, its planting generally throughout the West 

 is being abandoned, I believe; and I am constrained to say, 

 from my somewhat extended experience in their propagation 

 and culture, and from my observations in this and other West- 

 ern States, that standard trees are always to be preferred ; that 

 dwarf trees, as such, are a failure for all this Western country. 



A few of the reasons that have led to this conclusion I will 

 briefly give. 



It has comonly been nrged in the interest of the dwarf, that 

 it will bear sooner than a standard, or pear on its own roots. 

 This, if true at all, is only to a limited extent, and is always of 

 doubtful practical value. Anything that will check the natural 

 vigor of the pear or other frnit tree, will incline it to the 

 formation of fruit-buds. This is a well observed and conceded 

 fact. And it is sometimes desirable to induce snch condition 

 in the pear — and other fruits no less — as will tend to fruitful- 

 ness, sooner than would result from the uncontrolled habit of 

 the tree. 



