IN THE ORCHARD. 



423 



vapours, while dry earth is used to prevent 

 the escape of gases in manure cellars and 

 closets. 



It would, again, seem to me that no one 

 can deny that cultivation creates a vigorous 

 growth in any plant. The more we culti- 

 vate, the stronger, larger,- healthier speci- 

 mens we get, in apples, as 'well as vegetables 

 and other plants ; so that disease of any kind 

 could scarcely have so much effect upon the 

 cultivated ones as upon the uncultivated. 



It is my opinion, based on observation 

 for a period of some years, that as a matter 

 of fact orchards with clean cultivation till 

 the middle of the summer give cleaner 

 fruit than those not cultivated. 



The Horticulturist recently wrote Mr. 



Peart, asking for some further information 

 on the subject. The following reply has 

 been received : 



"I doubt very much if I could add any- 

 thing which would throw any light on the 

 question at present, and I do not care to 

 jump at conclusions. In order to see how 

 it appears to work I am not plowing or 

 cultivating two of my orchards this year. 

 What has grown on them I have mown and 

 left on the ground as a mulch. The third 

 orchard I have ploughed and cultivated. I 

 will try to note the difference if any, bet- 

 ween the same varieties under disimilar con- 

 ditions. I expect however, the cleaner: 

 fruit on non-plowed soil, but the larger on 

 the plowed. 



PEARS AND APPLES FOR PROFIT 



kfc/^ N the right kind of soil I think 

 \-J pears are even more profitable 

 than apples," said Mr. E. C. Beman, the 

 well known pear grower of Newcastle, to 

 an editorial representative of. The Horticul- 

 turist, who visited his fruit farm during 

 July. " A good clay loam with a deep clay 

 subsoil is the best soil in, this district for 

 pear growing. Pears will not bear profit- 

 ably on a cold sandy subsoil nor where the 

 hard-pan is too near the surface. 



" One reason why I prefer pears to apples 

 is that an acre of pears on good land will 

 yield more fruit than an apple orchard of 

 the same size. If the soil is thoroughly 

 adapted for their growth I believe pears 

 will, in the course of a number of years, 

 yield at least 50 per cent, more barrels than 

 an apple orchard will. 



" Near here, however, there are a few 

 pear trees which are not doing nearly as 

 well as mine, largely because the soil where 

 tney are growing is not suitable. In regard 

 to the returns secured I believe pears net the 

 best prices. My Bartletts last year 

 brought about $4 per barrel, and Will- 



motts about $2.50 per barrel. My best 

 apples on the whole brought quite a little 

 less than this. The demand for pears is 

 very good, but not quite as strong as for 

 apples. No more care is required in. con- 

 nection with a pear than with an apple or- 

 chard. 



some; common troubles. 



" I have had considerable trouble with 

 pear psylla and the green fruit worm. For 

 the psylla I have sprayed the trees with a 

 heavy mixture of lime whitewash. The 

 mixture was as strong as the nozzle would 

 spray. This was applied when the buds 

 were commencing to open, and as a result I 

 find it has lessened the psylla considerably. 

 The trees were completely coated with the 

 wash. For the green worm I have sprayed 

 with the paris green and Bordeaux mixture 

 and have found this treatment a great suc- 

 cess. The spraying must be done early in 

 the season just when the fruit is forming. 



" Bartlett, Buerre Bosc, Duchess, Pre- 

 coce and Clapp's Favorite are the varieties 

 of pears that have given me the best results. 

 Thev are all hardv. 



