174 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



doing much harm, and consequently, a large amount of pears grew to 

 perfection, less infested with insects and specks than we ever saw be- 

 fore. Our pear orchards consists of 2000 trees, mostly Keiffer, from 

 two to eight years old. This season we have gathered and marketed 

 about 1500 bushels of the choicest fruit, which we sold at from 50 cents 

 to $1.50 per bushel. 



The Keiffer is outgrowing its former reputation, and is rapidly 

 coming to the front as a fruit of fine quality and appearance. It seems 

 the quality of this pear depends largely on the soil where it grows. 

 This pear needs thinning out at least one-half, as soon as the fruit is 

 properly set, for it is an enormous bearer. 



We gather when the stem parts readily at the joint, by simply lift- 

 ing the pear upward. We place away in bushel boxes and barrels, in 

 a dry, cool cellar, just as we gather them in the orchard, and did not 

 touch them until they colored ; then we assorted and graded them, 

 making three grades — No. 1, all sound ; No. 2, smaller, but sound ; No. 

 3, wormy and specked. We marketed mostly in barrels, in car-load 

 lots. 



Our orchards are planted 18 by 18 feet apart. We practice culti- 

 vation from the start, having planted black raspberries in between, so 

 we can cultivate both ways. This year at the last cultivation, we sowed 

 to cow-peas, which did admirably ; keeping the ground moist, shaded 

 and free from weeds; it also kept the fruit which fell, in fine condition, 

 as the sun could not reach it. After gathering the peas, we turned the 

 hogs in; they bedded the vines down, eating the peas. 



We are very little troubled with blight. We are always watching, 

 and as soon as there is any sign, we cut it out, and our orchards are in 

 a thrifty and healthy condition. 



PoLSTER Bros., Wright City, Mo. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Gardner — I am interested in pears, as I have a few. I have 

 been thinking of planting a good many, and the question is, of course, 

 what of the blight? I do not know of anything that is so destructive 

 to pears as the blight. Mr. Nelson suggested that he had a great suc- 

 cess with his pears by making a cut in the outside bark and slitting up 

 from the ground. The pear does best, I think, in ground that is not 

 cultivated to any great extent ; that is, it is not so subject to the blight. 

 It has occurred to me that it might be that the blight is caused by a 

 tightening of the bark in cultivation. The bark miy not be able to 



