22 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



must concede the one point and that is that the Bartlett is the stand- 

 ard. 



Witli many the Kieffer is a profitable pear. It is tlie least susceptible 

 to blight of any other variety, bnt you know its characteristics as Avell 

 as I do. So far as I am concerned personally, I would not plant a Kiefter 

 pear and jet as I said they have been very profitable to many. 



The same can be said of some other varieties of fruit; for instance, 

 the Ben Davis apple is one tliat I would not plant, yet it has been very 

 profitable to many, and is in favor with quite a few in this section of 

 the country. So in selecting your varieties of pears, you should decide 

 for yourself, those varieties which you like the best and which will prove 

 the most satisfactorv to vou. 



There is the Duchess pear if you prefer it. There are those who pre- 

 fer the Dwarf variety, or, this variety on Dwarf stock, and this is always 

 something that you must decide for yourself. Personally, I prefer the 

 standard. 



Now, as to the treatment and cultural methods. The culture of the 

 piear is always a question on which there is a great deal of diversity of 

 opinion. Shall it be the higher culture methods, or shall it be the op- 

 ])Osite? Then there comes in the question of blight, for as you know, this 

 question of blight is the one great serious drawback in the cultivation of 

 pears. 



I have seen whole orchards go out with pear blight. Others succeed 

 in holding them and keeping the pears by very thorough work in keep- 

 ing the blight under control. I do not think there is anything in the line 

 of a remedy for pear blight, only the cutting-out system, by watching 

 very carefully and keeping this infection from your orchard. But I will 

 tell you that it requires very close watching. If you can get around this 

 question of blight in your orchards you need have no question but what 

 they will prove very profitable. 



There is less tendency to plant pear orchards now than other kinds of 

 fruit. We do know that in some sections of the country, especially in 

 central and southern part of Indiana, they cannot grow anything but 

 the Kieffer. The blight there is so bad upon the Bartlett and other va- 

 rieties of that class that they can not grow them there. HoAvever, 

 wherever the Bartlett can be grown, it will always be a profitable invest- 

 ment. 



I believe in the heading-in system. I have always practiced it in my 

 own orchards. Some think that by heavy fertilization and heavy prun- 

 ing, you induce a condition that causes pear blight. Indeed I have seen 

 some conditions that would lead me to believe that this is so. 



So far as cultivation is concerned I have seen orchards well cultivated 

 with no more blight than those not cultivated. I think the tendency is 

 toward seeding the orchard with the idea of stopping its spread. T 

 think I should cultivate a pear orchard just the same as an apjde orchard 

 where I could do so; that is, I would give it the same cultivation. The 

 whole system is summed up in this, produce the very finest pears that 

 you can. 



Spraying must be done as with everything else. Your trees are liable 

 to be attacked by the leaf blight and other pests common to it, and you 

 should always spray in anticipation of these pests, even though none for 

 the moment show themselves. 



