136 Tear J\rotes. 



Pear Notes. 



BY E. 8ATTERTHWAITE. 



I PROMISED to send you some pear notes, from observations made during the last, 

 two years. In a paper, read before the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society, 

 two years ago, and published, I believe, in The Horticulturist, I gave my expe- 

 rience with pears at considerable length. Since that time, I have not had occasion 

 to modify, to any great extent, the views therein expressed, except in so far as the 

 tendency to blight, which I have discovered in some varieties have materially lowered 

 their value ; and others, found comparatively exempt, have been correspondingly 

 raised, in my estimation. Last year's experience, however, with pears, was so pecu- 

 liar as to be worthy of particular notice. The extremes of weather, which prevailed 

 during a great part of the year, having, in some way, had a remarkable effect on the 

 pear crop, as well as on all other fruits. One thing most noticeable was, that many 

 old sorts, long since condemned because of their liability to crack, were last year as 

 fair and fine as could possibly be, not the least tendency to crack showing itself in 

 any variety ; even White Doyenne was perfect and fair as could be desired, and Glout 

 Morceau, which has seldom before been good for anything here, from its disposition 

 to crack, and other defects, was last year, about the finest and best crop of any in my 

 grounds, among some five hundred varieties I had fruiting. Easter Beurre, also, 

 which for some years has been utterly worthless, from a peculiar fungoid afTection, 

 was all right last year. These, and many other similar cases that might be men- 

 tioned, are such remarkable exceptions to the general rule, as to awaken a most inte- 

 resting inquiry as to what peculiarity in the season could have produced such wonder- 

 ful efi'ects. Why was it that varieties of pears that have been uniformly cracked, or 

 otherwise so defective as to be good for nothing for many years, were last year entirely 

 free from defects of any kind, and as fine as could be desired ? I do not feel qualified 

 to throw any light on this question, but it is one certainly well worthy of investiga- 

 tion, for its solution could not fail to throw light upon some of the most embarrassing 

 questions connected with pear culture. The extraordinary healthiness and abundance 

 of other tree fruits last year could be, in great measure, ascribed to the comparative 

 scarcity of curculio, and other fruit-depredating insects, but no insect (at least none 

 that is apparent) has anything to do with these pear diseases. Whatever may have 

 been the cause of this remarkable exemption from disease alluded to, it is not likely 

 that it will be anything but temporary, and it would not be safe, as yet at least, to 

 count on any permanent improvement in these varieties. 



Though the season, last year, was such a remarkably healthy one for fruit products, 

 it was not so for the trees. Owing to the extreme drouth, the growth of wood was 

 poor, and blight prevailed to a much greater extent than I have ever known ; in fact, 

 with the exception of a few cases the previous year, I have never before noticed it in 

 my grounds, without it may have been in a few instances which were ascribed to other 

 causes. From many circumstances that have come under my notice, I am induced 

 to believe that the generally accepted theory of Downing, that this disease is caused 

 by the freezing of the sap in the unripened wood in the fall, can hardly be correct. If 

 it were not for encountering the weight of such high authority, I should be inclined 



