298 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN, 



Another factor which is stimulating pear production in the North- 

 west very materially is that it is one of the most profitable industries 

 we are taking up. " A survey of yields and prices the past ten years 

 will show that on the whole pear culture is more profitable than apple 

 culture. Apples are produced in nearly every state in the Union. The 

 pear area is naturally restricted ; there is a greater demand than supply 

 for certain classes of fruit; consequently the prices have been more 

 satisfactory than has been true of the apple. 



CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 



To grow pears successfully there are three things which we must 

 consider: First, the climate;' second, the soil; and third, the personnel. 

 Unless these can be met satisfactorily, the industry will be a failure. 



Pears containing largely Pyrus communis, so-called European blood 

 do not stand such extremes of either cold or heat as do apples. Success 

 requires that climatic conditions be such that the pears produce a slow 

 but steady, firm growth. A permanent pear industry is almost impos- 

 sible under climatic conditions where the pear distributes its activity 

 over a very long period, causing a soft, sappy, rank growth. AVith 

 such trees it is very hard indeed to control the blight. 



The personal element in pear culture is one of the most important. 

 Unless you have a personnel that can be educated np to an under- 

 standing of the terrible consequence of the neglect of blight, it does not 

 seem practical to engage in pear culture. 



SOIL TYPES. 



Soils must also be suitable. On the whole pears do better on heavy 

 soils. This is not necessarily true of all varieties. The Bartlett will 

 grow under almost all sorts of conditions found on the Pacific coast. 

 However, the better shipping fruit I believe is found on the clay 

 soils. The Howell, while producing very well on our lighter loams, 

 grows its best on the heavier soils. The Anjou succeeds on many of 

 the very heavy gumbo and adobe soils — so-called sticky soils — never- 

 theless, it thrives best and is most vigorous when put on a medium 

 loam with good drainage. Bosc, on the other hand, is a variety which 

 thrives on very heavy soils. Cornice, while growing on a great variety 

 of soils, is more at home on the lighter soils. I have known it to bloom 

 Avhile two years of age, and bear quite heavily at from four to six 

 years of age on such soils. When, however, it is grown on extremely 

 heavy soils, it is very slow in getting started, matures slowly, and is 

 often ten or twelve years old before it has a commercial crop. The 

 AVi liter Nelis requires a very rich strong soil. If the soil is weak or 

 too light, the tree will bear very nicely and produce most delicious 

 fruit, which, however, is too small to bring the best prices on the 

 market. 



A\^e often hear that pears will grow on any soil — that any old 

 swamp or river overfiow land is suitable for them. The more I "study 

 the pear, the less I agree with this statement. While it is true that 

 it Mill stand more moisture and grow on heavier soils than any of our 

 other tree fruits, nevertheless many varieties, if planted on such soils 

 will not thrive and a large percentage of the trees will die. To do its 

 best the tree should be put on strong, deep, well drained loam. 



