FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORK. 



As it had been found that young seedlings once affected, were more apt to be 

 troubled with leaf blight the following year, the opinion was entertained that it 

 was a very small fungus, whose extremely minute seed were carried through the 

 sap-pores to all parts of the plant, and were ready to germinate and develop them- 

 selves whenever the wet weather favored their growth on the surface of the leaves. 

 It had been proved that the seed of the little fungus that produces rust in wheat, 

 were carried from the grain or seed up the stalk in the sap, these seed being im- 

 measurably smaller than the pores ; and it was in accordance with analogy to 

 suppose that the leaf blight was similarly propagated. 



Among the sorts of pear not liable to cracking, were named the Ananas d'Ete, 

 Flemish Beauty, Beurre d'Amalis, Bartlett, and others. 



Trees on New Soils. — The question was discussed whether trees grown on soils 

 which had been previously occupied with trees, and enriched by manuring, was as 

 good as those on new soils, or those previously occupied with ftirm crops merely. 

 The members generally had found a second crop of nursery trees from the same 

 land, inferior to the first, even with considerable manuring, unless some years of 

 " rest" intervened, which period appeared to vary with the natural strength of the 

 soil from two to eight years, Rotatiori in tree crops was found important as well 

 as in farming ; for example, it was stated by T. C. Maxwell, of Geneva, that he 

 grew cherry seedlings on land one-half of which was previously used for dwarf 

 pears, and the other half for cherries. The cherries after the cherries, were only 

 one-half as large as after dwarf pears. He had grown fine cherries after a crop 

 of peach-trees. Some of the members, and especially P. Barry, thought that 

 trees raised on manured old ground were not so healthy as those on new soil, the 

 latter affording fibrous roots in abundance, while on old soils made rich with 

 manure, the roots are thick, forky, and few in number. 



Dwarf Pears for Orchard Culture. — Many interesting statements were made 

 on this subject. Several very striking proofs were furnished of the profits of 

 dwarf orchards. T. Gr. Yeoraans, of Walworth, Wayne County, had large plan- 

 tations of dwarf trees. They were eight feet apart each way, and were cultivated 

 by two horses walking abreast, quite as perfectly as could be done in a garden by 

 hand, and at less expense than the culture of corn and potatoes. His trees are 

 about eight years old. His Angoulemes bear now about a bushel per tree, and 

 sell readily for fifteen dollars per barrel. Many of the pears weigh about a 

 pound. A member stated that he had, that morning, measured and estimated 

 half an acre of dwarf Virgalieus on Ellwanger & Barry's grounds, and found 

 that 120 bushels per acre would be below the actual product this unfavorable 

 year, the price being $3 per bushel at least. The trees are but six years from the 

 bud. Last year the crop was about the same ; the year before, or when but four 

 years from the bud, they yielded at the rate of $500 per acre. They had a row 

 of the Louise Bonne of Jersey, eight years old, that at the same rate ])er acre, 

 would yield 500 bushels, and they readily sell at |3 per bushel. The cultivation 

 is not more costly than that of a cornfield. W. P. Townsend, of Lockport, who 

 has had much experience, made the following statement on tliis suliject : Seven 

 years since, he commenced raising trees. A quantity of quince stocks were im- 

 ported, and set in the usual manner, in nursery rows, and budded with pears. At 

 the age of one year, one-half the pear-trees were dug out. He then determined 

 to leave the balance in such a manner that the ground might be occupied by a 

 pear orchard, which was done by removing two rows and leaving one, which made 

 the distance ten feet between the rows. The rows thus left were thinned out so 

 that they stood three or four feet apart. At the distance of twenty feet in each 

 alternate row, a standard pear-tree was planted, so that the ground was cut 



