278 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



most troublesome to the plum. Both are 

 dealt with in the publications referred to 

 previously. It may be added that the four 

 ounces of Paris green to the barrel will by 

 no means kill all the curculio, and in a sea- 

 son when this insect is plentiful an un- 

 desirable number of plums will still be de- 



stroyed. Five and even six ounces can be 

 used to forty gallons as long as plenty of 

 lime is used to neutralize the caustic effect 

 of the arsenic. 



St. Catharines, Ont. 



M. BURRELL. 



THE PEAR— PIRUS COMMUNIS- 



'HE pear tree has been under cultiva- 

 tion for a period unknown. It is 

 found wild in the British Isles, and 



^pj is a native of most parts of tem- 

 perate Europe, it is also found in the Him- 

 alayan region. 



The pear is well worthy of the title, the 

 " Queen of Fruits," in the Province of 

 Ontario, where it is grown as near perfec- 

 tion as can be done in any country. 



The pear attains to a greater height than 

 the apple, and is more upright in growth ; 

 it also lives to a great age. There are 

 instances known where the pear lived to 

 over four hundred years. 



Every person knows what uses the pear 

 fruit is put to. It is first used for decorat- 

 ing the table, then for dessert, stewing, 

 baking, drying and for manufacturing into 

 perry. 



The pear has its insect enemies and dis- 

 eases like the rest of our fruits, the worst 

 disease being the blight. Having had con- 

 siderable experience in growing fruit, and, 

 being a keen observer of their habits, I had 

 the good fortune to overcome this disease 

 called fire blight, and it fnay be that some 

 growers would like to know my methods of 

 checking the disease. 



I learned my first lesson from the Seckel 

 pear tree. I noticed that this variety seldom 

 blighted, nor are the other varieties resemb- 

 ling the Seckel in its short-jointed wood so 

 subject to blight as are the soft willow long- 

 jointed growth of many other varieties. 







Fig. 1838. 



I noticed that the Seckel pear tree ripens 

 its wood before the dry hot weather sets in, 

 or in other words it ripens its wood as it is 

 made. 



