PEAR BLIGUT. 



experience justifies the confident hope that, in at least many localities here, the Quince 

 may be rendered fairly profitable. 



I may further observe that, although I usually cultivate my trees as single standards, 

 I find they succeed equally well when three or four grow out of the same root, pro- 

 vided, always, the original number is maintained by the careful removal of sprouts 

 every spring. Many gentlemen in our city have been equally successful with myself, 

 so that quite a number of families now raise their own supply of this fruit. 



THE PEAR BLIGHT. 



BY A. U. ERNST, CINCINNATI, OHIO. 



The Pear is now esteemed as one of the indispensable luxuries connected with a 

 suburban or country residence. It is, therefore, not only important that the amateur 

 and the novice should have information on the character and relative value of the fruit, 

 its time of ripening in our climate, that he may select judiciously, but that he should 

 also be somewhat informed on its adaptation to soil, and its cultivation, with the 

 necessary care to protect the tree against the vicissitudes of climate, and the maladies 

 to which it is subject. 



The tree is not a native of our country. It is said to be of Europe and Asia, where 

 it lives to great age, and grows to an immense size, with other native trees. In that 

 condition, it is hardly recognizable as the parent of the present luscious and high- 

 flavored fruit, but is small, austere, puckery, and unfit for the palate. It is to the skill 

 of cultivators, that we are indebted for this great change and improvement in its char- 

 acter ; and to none so much as to the late Van Mons, of Belgium. Chance or acci- 

 dent have not been idle in the work of adding many excellent varieties to the list; 

 but the improvement of the fruit has (though not always), been at the expense of the 

 hardiness and durability of the tree. This point has been too much overlooked by 

 propagators ; its tenderness being seen, scientific cultivators are giving more attention 

 to correct it in their future additions. 



The cultivation of the tree is very simple ; it readily adapts itself to any soil or loca- 

 tion, so that it be not a swamp or marsh. A deep, rich, clayey loam, with a porous 

 subsoil, and a full exposure to light and air, is the best for its full development. The 

 tendency of the tree is to throw down strong tap-roots ; it is, therefore, iniportant to 

 know something of the nourishment it will find to feed on there. This tendency is 

 overcome by growing it on the Quince, the natural disposition of which is to spread 

 its roots, and luxuriate on the surface soil ; though the tree is dwarfed, and the dura- 

 tion of its life shortened, still it is better for shallow soils, and gardens where not much 

 room can be afforded. The fine sorts, with few exceptions, succeed well and produce 

 abundantly on the Quince. These are usually trained in pyramid form, branching 

 from the ground up, making a very handsome and attractive object in the border. 



VOL. IV. G 2 



