358 



PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



the Talent experimental orchard, Reimer is using a variety known as 

 Surprise with splendid results. We quote from him again as follows : 



"We o])tained propagating wood of the 

 Surprise from the Horticultural Depart- 

 ment of the IMissouri Experiment 

 Station. There two large trees of this 

 variety have never shown any blight 

 while other varieties of pears in the 

 same orchard surrounding these trees 

 have suffered severely from blight; 

 many of them have blighted to the 

 ground. During 1915, many inocula- 

 tions were made into this variety. When 

 inoculations were made into the tips of 

 tender young shoots, they would blight 

 back for a distance of only three to four 

 inches. Inoculations made into the 

 trunks of two-year-old trees failed to 

 develop the disease. The season of 1916 

 proved very favorable for the develop- 

 ment of pear blight, and hence was ideal 

 for testing the blight-resi.sting qualities 

 of this variety. A large number of 

 inoculations were made into the trunks 

 of one and two-year-old trees on several 

 different dates. Many of these inocula- 

 tions failed entirely, while many pro- 

 duced small superficial cankers in which 

 the disease soon died, and then these 

 wounds would heal over perfectly. In 



two trees rather large wounds were produced. These, however, soon 

 healed over. Check trees of many other varieties and types inoculated 

 at the same time and in the same manner and with the same lots of 

 bacteria were killed by the disease. 



"The Surprise is an extremely vigorous grower, with an upright 

 slightly spreading habit, making a desirable tree for topworking. 

 Young trees topworked on this variety are making a very fine growth. 



"The origin of the Surprise is not known. A few trees of this variety 

 were sent out by Stark Bros. Nursery for testing purposes about fifteen 

 years ago. Their records do not show where the variety was obtained." 



The work in Oregon offers much encouragement for California pear 

 growers. We must not, however, be too hasty in our conclusions and 

 before definite recommendations are made for this state there should 

 be careful experimental work done with these promising varieties and 

 species under our conditions. Mr. A. L. Wisker of Grass Valley has 

 been one of the pioneers in the work of experimentation with Japanese 

 roots and results have been fairly satisfactory, so much so in fact that 

 he, as a practical nurseyman, has given up the use of the French root 

 for propagating purposes, with the result that other nurserymen in the 

 state have followed his example. 



Fig. 154. Leaf of Surprise. 



140 



