TEAR BLIGHT. 



ences. The Great Creator has in his wisdom so ordered it, that the vegetation, soil, 

 and climate of every part of the globe act in perfect harmony, for the best develop- 

 ment of the former. A departure from this state of nature is at the hazard of the 

 health and longevity of the plant or tree, though this result does not invariably follow. 

 The Pear tree, as before observed, is not a native of this continent, but of a different 

 hemisphere, where it grows to large size and great age, as other forest trees do. All 

 intelligent writers, so far as I know, are agreed that the improvement of the fruit has 

 generally been at the expense of the hardiness and durability of the tree, (not a neces- 

 sary consequence). However, we find it so. We have imported an enfeebled race, 

 and are exposing it to a new climate, the vicissitudes of which it is not fully capable 

 of resisting. I care not for terms : whether you call \i frozen sap blight, or sun blight ; 

 whether the etiect is produced by sudden and rapid changes of winter temperature, or 

 an excessive summer sun. In either case, it is the destruction of the natural functions 

 of the tree, producing disease and death. The former is often tardy in its work, but 

 the latter generally rapid and instantaneous. In the one case, it is brought to bear 

 on the tree in a state of rest, when the sap-vessels are contracted, when their juices 

 have been expended to form wood, which is immaturely ripened. In the other case, 

 when the sap-vessels are extended to their utmost capacity, to supply the demands of 

 a rapid and luxuriant growth ; when this growth is in its most tender and delicate 

 condition, the scorching mid-day sun does the mischief; the sap, by its rays, is scalded 

 and vitiated, a chemical process of decomposition takes place, its poison is soon carried 

 to and mixed with other portions of the tree, and the whole is often irretrievably lost 

 in a few hours. The only remedy is, the moment that it is discovered on the limb, 

 where this form of blight always makes its appearance, to lop off until you come to 

 the sound and healthy wood, and thus prevent its spreading. Do not stop to hunt 

 insects, until you have performed this work, when you can do so leisurely. 



Sun blight, or fire blight, is always most prevalent in a wet and hot summer. 

 There has been but little the last three years, and we shall certainly have no frozen 

 sap blight to complain of next summer. This is to be attributed to rather unusual 

 dry summers during this period ; the wood having ripened well before winter set in, 

 and the growth not so luxurient as in wet seasons. 



As a remedy, or rather a preventive to the frozen sap blight, I would suggest the 

 shortening-in application, in September or October, to check the growth, and induce 

 the maturing of the wood. This system is, perhaps, only applicable to dwarfs, as 

 standards cannot well be reached. What is understood by shortening-in, is to cut 

 back the present year's new shoots to the firm wood, say one-third or one-half of it, as 

 the case may require, so that the sap remaining shall be expended in perfecting the 

 wood which is left, and not to be stimulated by the leaves on the ends of the shoots 

 to continue growth. This system is also practiced to force the tree into forming fruit 

 spurs, and thus facilitate the production of fruit. Care must be observed in the time 

 of performing this operation. It must not be 'so early in the season as to cause the 

 bursting of the lateral buds, and thereby cause a more injurious growth than 

 attempted to check. There need be very little risk in this; we must be govern 



