COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE PEAR AND OTHER FRUIT CULTURE 



C O M P A 11 A T n' E VALUE OF Til I] 1' E A 11 A N D 

 OTHER FRUIT CULTURE. 



BY L. B., NEW JERSKY, 



Pear Editor: Your repeated iiKiuirics a1)out "the possilu'lity of having pear 

 orchards," have suprgcstcd some reflections which I will suljiiiit to yoii in all 

 humility and with more impartiality than you arc perhaps williii<r to suppose in a 

 man so fond of pears, and so thoroughly convinced of their usefulness as a luxury 

 and an article of diet. 



It is beyond contest that of all the fruits cultivated in our northern latitudes, 

 the apple must take the lead, if not in point of profit, at least as the most useful, 

 the most indispensable fruit. We all agree upon that point. There are many 

 varieties of apples as good as the Onest pear, and, by some, preferred to all fruit. 

 Xext, in point of general usefulness, comes the peach. I do not mention the 

 smaller fruits, as grapes, raspberries, and strawberries ; we only intend to talk 

 about fruit groiving upon trees. 



The question arises here, how shall we consider the value of a fruit ; by its whole- 

 some influence upon the human diet, or by its market value ? As I consider all 

 good and ripe fruits healthy, we shall only look at the profits, generally a good 

 criterion of their respective merits. It is beyond a doubt that a good apple orclmrd, 

 if kept in good cultivation, and pruned, cleaned and watched, will pay hand- 

 somely ; so will a good peach orchard with perhaps less care. Cherries are out 

 of the question considered as orchards. It costs too much, it is too troublesome to 

 pick these, and they do not fill the basket as the larger fruits do. I believe that, 

 in a general point of view, and as long as Mr. Curculio will have his own way, 

 we must let the question be between the apple, the pear, and the peach. 



Let us take up the apple first as the first in rank. Nothing in my opinion can 

 be more beautiful, more promising, more tempting than a fine orchard of healthy 

 well-bearing apple trees, as you can see many in Northern and Western New York, 

 Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia. In good seasons 

 these orchards bring good profits ; but, there is not the main question. We want 

 to compare the products of an orchard from the very starting point, not from a 

 well and old established plantation. Let us see: — 



One acre of apple trees will support, at twenty-five feet distance from tree to 

 tree (and that distance is at least required for standard apple trees), from sixty- 

 five to seventy trees. 



These trees if sound, and well-growing varieties, as the Baldwin, Northern Spy, 

 R. I. Greening, &c. &c., will require a space of time of from ten to fifteen years 

 before they begin to yield any profits. 



It is true that meanwhile the soil can be cultivated as if nothing was in the way; 

 but this large cultivation is a permanent danger for the spare trees in so large a 

 spot of ground ; because they are sometimes overlooked. Such an acre requires 

 a different culture and rotation from the other parts of the farm, as cattle cannot 

 be turned in, poles and boxes not being a sufficient protection. Many young 

 apple orchards are rooted up and abandoned in disgust because we have no more 

 of that patience and watchfulness, the distinguished features of the old settlers ; 

 we jump at conclusions, nowadays. 



Well, if it must be so, let us turn our attention to the peach-tree. Three years 

 ring a good variety into bearing, chiefly where the soil is light and suitable. 



