EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 217 



A comparative test of early spring spraying with copper sulphate, one pound to 

 fifteen gii lions of water, and late spraying with Bordeaux mixture just as the 

 fruit buds were about to open, resulted this season in favor of the latter treatment. 

 The Flemish Beauty, in particular, was observed to be almost entirely free from scab 

 where given the late application of Bordeaux, while fruit of trees sprayed early with 

 copper sulphate was considerably affected. The scab fungus is very apt to make its 

 appearance in the blooming period, attacking the fruit stalks and causing the falling 

 off of nmcli of the young fruit. Bordeaux mixture applied after the flower buds 

 are well formed, but before any have actually opened, not only prevents largely this 

 attack upon the fruit stalks, but also keeps the fruit itself free from the disease. 



Standard pear trees on the station grounds are often mistaken for dwarfs. This 

 is because the trees are started low and headed-in each season, thus giving them a 

 dwarfish appearance. Some of the advantages claimed for this system are: Greater 

 ease in tliinning, picking and spraying, and less liability of the fruit blowing down. 

 About the only objection to low heading is that it makes the working of the ground 

 in the orchard a little more ditlicult. But this objection is not a very serious one 

 in the case of the pear, since the trees are usually quite upright in habit of growth 

 and admit of close working with a horse, even when headed almost to the ground. 



NOTES ON VARIETIES. 



Angoulemo. — One of the best late fall market varieties. Succeeds best as a 

 dwarf. Of large size, oblong obovate ; color greenish yellow : quality very good. 

 Largely gro\\Ti. 



Anjou. — A fine fall pear, but a shy bearer while young. Twelve year old trees have 

 fruited very sparsely as yet. Color yellow, often with a brownish red cheek; quality 

 very good. October and November. 



Ansault. — An early and abundant bearer. Ripens just before Sheldon and resembles 

 that variety in general appearance. 



Bartlett. — One of the most popular home and market pears grown. Fruits well here. 

 Season early September. 



Beauty (Sununer). — A medium to large yellow pear of only fair quality. Rots at 

 the core. Seems to have little to recommend it aside from vigor of tree. Follows 

 Bartlett closely in time of ripening. Introduced by Otto Locke, of New Braunfels, 

 Texas. The trees were received from tlie Division of Pomology in 1894. 



Bloodeood. — A valuable dessert pear, ripening in August. Size medium, turbinate; 

 color yellow, well covered with brownish russet; quality very good. 



Bosc. — Size large, pyriform ; color dark yellow, nearly covered with patches and dots 

 of cinnamon russet; quality best. A valuable autumn variety for home or market. 



Clapp Favorite. — Large, turbinate; yellow with I)rownish red cheek; quality quite 

 good. A good grower and an abundant bearer, but the fruit is liable to rot at the core 

 and should be picked before fully ripe. Quite subject to the attack of pear blight. 



Dana Ilovey. — Fruit rather small, obtuse pyriform; color yellow, russetcd ; quality 

 best. Ripens in October and will keep a number of weeks. A valuable dessert varietj'. 



Dearborn. — Size small, roundisli, pyriform; color clear light yellow; quality rather 

 low. Not very valuable. August. 



Desportes. — Size medium or a little below: color greenish yellow, blotched and 

 specked with russet: quality rather low. Inclined to rot at the core. Not valuable here. 



Drouard. — Size large, roundish pyriform: color yellow, considerably russeted; 

 quality good. Not very productive as yet, but otherwise promising for market. 

 November. 



Early Duchess. — Resembles Angoulenie in shape and color, but has a smoother sur- 

 face. Ripens three weeks earlier. Requires further trial. 



Elizabeth (Manning). — Size small, roundish obovate; color yellow with bright red 

 cheek: quality very good. The tree is a fine, shapely grower and an abundant bearer. 



Esperen. — Fruit medium, or a little below, roundish obtuse pyriform ; color light 

 yellow, well covered with cinnamon russet: quality fair only. Blights badly here. 



Fitzwater. — Size medium, obtuse pyriform: color yellow with tracings and blotches 

 of cinnamon russet; quality good. Quite unjuoductive as yet. October. 



Flemish (Beauty). — Very subject to the attack of scab fungus, but a fine, hand- 

 some pear when well grown. Size large, obtuse pyriform; color greenish yellow, 

 somewhat russeted, and with a brownish red cheek; quality very good. Late Sep- 

 tember, 



28 



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