THE MONTHLY BULLETIN". 145 



Fifth — Rim water long enough to have soil soaked to the four-foot 

 level at the lower end of furrow, then turn it off. 



Sixth — Harrow to fill furrows as soon after irrigation as the soil 

 will work without puddling the soil on which team walks. 



Seventh — As soon as deeper soil is dry enough to work mellow, culti- 

 vate deeply. Duplicate every two weeks until next irrigation. 



BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN PEARS AND PEAR STOCKS.* 



By F. C. Reimer, Superintendent Southern Oregon Experiment Station, Talent, Oregon. 



For more than two centuries the pear has been a very popular fruit 

 in this country. At one time it even exceeded the apple in popularity. 

 During the past half century the fruit has usually sold for very profit- 

 able prices. In the northeastern states there is a vast territory well 

 suited to pear culture. In the three Pacific Coast states climatic and 

 soil conditions are almost ideal for the growing of pears ; yet, accord- 

 ing to the 1910 census the total number of pear trees and the total 

 output of pears amounted to less than one tenth the number of apple 

 trees and the output of apples. 



The question naturally arises. Why is the output of this fruit not 

 greater? It is hardly necessary to answer this question before an 

 intelligent body of fruit growers. Every pear grower is well aware 

 of the fact that the pear is very susceptible to pear blight — the most 

 destructive disease known to our deciduous fruits. For considerably 

 more than a century this disease has been a "nightmare" to the pear 

 growers in all of the older fruit regions of this country. In the older 

 pear districts the fight against this disease has been given up by many 

 of the pear growers, and the disease has been the victor. This is due 

 to the fact that this disease usually works rapidly, often persists from 

 year to year, and by its insidious nature baffles the average fruit grower. 



The pear industry in the eastern states has been held in check by this 

 disease. The disease is native to that region and as long as a century 

 ago it began to destroy the pear orchards there. The pear industry 

 had just become well established in the southern states when this disease 

 made its appearance and practically wiped out the industry. About 

 1900, pear blight made its appearance in the San Joaquin Valley of 

 California, and its history on the Pacific Coast dates from that time. 



The only place where this disease has been fought persistently on a 

 large scale is among the pear growers of the Pacific Coast. But even 

 here the fight has been expensive and in some instances not a success- 

 ful one. Many growers have not appreciated the fact that this disease 

 must be fought promptly, persistently and thoroughly. For example, 

 in the San Joaquin Valley the disease practically wiped out a magnifi- 

 cent pear industry in two years. 



The question naturally arises. Shall we keep up the present fight 

 against blight? The reply is, emphatically. Yes. The small total out- 

 put of pears will certainly insure excellent prices. It is also certain 

 that the Pacific Coast, because of its suitable climate, will be the home 



♦Address delivered before Oregon State Horticultural Society, Medford, Oregon, 

 December 2, 1914. 



