PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



313 



the case of varieties that do not possess a heavy-bearing tendency, and 

 may be practiced witli all varieties to possible advantage, at least with 

 no resultant injury. About the fifth season pear blight very often 

 makes its appearani-e. A most careful watch must be kept for this dis- 

 ease at all times when pruning is being done. If any cases are 

 discovered the treatment outlined in the chapter on Pear Blight 

 becomes necessary. 



MATURE TREES. 



The pruning of mature trees is not at all difficult if the first five years' 

 work has been done intelligently and well. The tree enters the sixth 

 year with a good shape, and later prunings are done to keep the head 

 open, to prevent the tree from getting too high, to develop fruiting 

 wood, to facilitate spraying and picking, and to remove blighted and 

 dead wood. On account of the blight the idea of developing fruit spurs 

 from the trunk and low down on larger limbs has been discouraged. 



Fig. 121. Redeveloping fruiting wood low down on the trunks of trees which 

 have at one time been stripped. 



95 



