124 ANNUAL REPORT. 
Now have 75 trees, which look healthy, and from which I expect 
fruit next year. I see no reason why we should not raise pears. 
They like our soil and will not root-kill if we can keep the tops. 
Would recommend every man to raise a few. When I can’t raise 
pears I will leave the State. I buy the trees and do not propa- 
gate. They require high, dry situations, but not poor soil, unless 
we wish to kill the tree. Have the Flemish Beauty and Louise 
Bonne de Jersey and others, all on pear stock. 
Mr. Grimes inquired about the Birkett Pear. 
Mr. Jewell :—The Flemish Beauty is the hardiest. There is no 
soil so poor that it will not live if it does not freeze out. Up to 
°72-3 many trees were in fruiting. One in La Crosse bore four 
bushels one year. Our experiments in pear culture have not proved 
a success. We can’t recommend it for general planting. In a 
few very favorable localities it may succeed. There are some fine 
pear trees of the Flemish Beauty over back of the lake, in Winona, 
but there is not one place in a thousand like that. Would recom- 
mend to try it if you have a very favorable place on not very rich 
soil. If it has not protection from the sun on the south, had better 
protect with an evergreen. 
Mr. Sias:—I have some pears on the Juneberry and Thorn. 
Has any one had any experience with it thus worked ? 
Mr. Jewell :—Have it on the Mountain Ash, but not long enough 
to tell anything about it. Barnett Taylor had several on thorn 
stocks. 
Mr. Smith :—It succeeded on the Thorn in Vermont. 
Mr. Hart :—I planted in a shaded place, and there it failed. 
Then gave it a southern exposure and it succeeded. 
Mr. Dartt :—I concur with Mr. Jewell in doubting our ability to 
raise pears successfully in Minnesota. Raised them before the hard 
winter, but not since. Where we can raise tender varieties of 
apples we can raise hardy pears. In recommending for trial in 
most favorable localities would also make the provision that the 
experimenter have plenty of money to experinient with. 
Mr. Brand gave two cases to prove that protection from the sun 
is needed. In similar cases when the trunks were wrapped with 
straw rope the trees lived. With protection from the sun, we can 
raise the pear with success in many localities. 
Mr. Harris :—In times past I have been a strong advocate of 
pears. But some cause has destroyed the pear trees in every part 
of the State. Before 1872-3, hundreds of them looked as well as 
the Duchess. Shall the pear be known no more in Minnesota? 
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