98 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



these the young trees \nll start as well without as with fertilizers. 

 Commercial fertilizers, at least, are not wanted by young trees. Stable 

 manure, usually priceless in orchard regions, often puts an atmosphere in 

 an orchard not to be had by any other means, chiefly, probably, because 

 it helps to put the land in good tilth rather than because of the plant food 

 supplied. 



Present practices in the use of fertilizers for mature pear-trees are very 

 diverse. Until experiments in fertilizing pears are carefully carried out, the 

 pear-grower may well follow the practices of apple-growers, since a con- 

 siderable number of long-time experiments have thrown light on the 

 fertilizer requirements of apples in the several great fruit regions of the 

 countrj-. The pear, however, requires a richer soil than the apple; but, 

 on the other hand, it is pretty well agreed that the blight bacterium finds 

 readier entrance and a better medium in which to grow in the soft wood 

 of a luxuriant growth than in the more compact wood of slow growths. 

 WTiatever fertilizer is used should be applied early to promote early growth 

 and so permit thorough ripening of wood well in advance of severe cold. 

 Many growers maintain that blight is less x-irulent in orchards laid down 

 to grass. It is doubtfid if this is true and if true the produce is so scant 

 and the pears so small that an orchard grown in grass is about as often a 

 liabilitj- as an asset. When the pear is set in grass, however, nitrate of 

 soda applied very early in the season in liberal amounts is a necessary 

 adjunct to the grass-mulch. In any pear orchard, when the foliage is 

 off color, smaU, sparse, or hangs limp, nitrate of soda is a sovereign 

 rejuvenator. 



This discussion may be closed with ad\"ice as to how one may know 

 when his trees need fertilizers. If the trees are \-igorous, bearing well, the 

 fruits of proper size, the foliage a luxuriant green, the growth plump, the 

 buds turgid, he may well assume that his trees need no additional plant-food. 

 If the trees are not in the condition of well-being indicated, one ought to 

 be well assured that drainage, tillage, and health are as they should be 

 before appl>-ing expensive and uncertain fertilizers. Nothing is more 

 satisfactory' than making sure that one is not putting chemicals in the 

 ground for nothing in the use of fertilizers. A simple experiment to obtain 

 positive evidence as to whether a pear-orchard needs fertilizers is easily 

 carried on and gives assurance where before there was doubt. 



The following is an example of such an experiment : ( i ) Acid phosphate 

 to give about 50 pounds of phosphoric acid to the acre applied to one plat; 



