FRUIT CULTURE. 775 



Diseases Of the Pear. The principal disease of this delicious fruit, and one which 

 is a serious drawback to its cultivation in many sections, is what is commonly termed the 

 pear blight. This is supposed to be of two kinds, or rather is produced by two distinct 

 causes, viz. : the INSECT BLIGHT, and the FROZEN SAP BLIGHT. There is also a slug worm that 

 in many localities does great damage to pear trees from the middle of June to the 

 middle of July. Aside from these, the other diseases incident to pear trees are mainly such 

 as are known to the apple tree. For treatment, see DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF FRUIT. 



Peaches. Formerly peaches were grown in nearly all parts of this country, even as 

 far north as the State of Maine; but the removal of the forests has caused such climatic 

 changes and increased the exposure of the trees to the cold winds and severity of winter to 

 such an extent that now, even in central New England, it is very difficult to raise this most 

 luscious of fruits. The peach is a native of Persia and China, and is supposed to have been 

 brought to Italy by the Romans in the time of the Emperor Claudius. It was introduced 

 into this country by the early settlers about the year 1680. It is easily cultivated in sections 

 adapted to its growth, which is nearly all parts of the country, and often succeeds finely in 

 mountainous regions, where it would seem almost impossible to produce it. In the Middle, 

 Southern, and most of the Western States peaches are extensively cultivated, many fruit 

 growers having orchards of from five thousand to a hundred thousand trees of different ages. 

 The peach is short lived; consequently frequent planting of trees is a necessity. 



Varieties. The varieties of the peach are exceedingly numerous, new seedlings being 

 constantly produced, to be soon succeeded by others. A few of the old standard sorts remain 

 as good as when they were first introduced, some of which are commonly known in all 

 sections where the peach is grown; but, as a rule, we find the varieties of the peach more 

 transient, and also of a more local nature than almost any other kind of fruit. A few of 

 the best varieties suited to the soil and climate are better for setting an orchard than to 

 attempt the culture of a large number of sorts, the merits of which may not be well estab 

 lished. Like all other kinds of fruit, certain varieties thrive best in certain soils and sections. 

 Among the numerous kinds in cultivation, the following may be regarded as among the best: 

 For the Northern States the WATERLOO, RED RARERIPE, YELLOW RARERIPE, EARLY 

 BEATRICE, EARLY YORK, EARLY TROTH, TILLOTSON, OLD MIXON FREE, CRAWFORD S EARLY, 

 WILDER, PRATT S RARERIPE, the latter a variety recently introduced by Jas. H. Dwelly, of 

 South Hanover, Mass. The earliest varieties of peaches will generally be found most 

 desirable for New England and the North generally, as the latest ones rarely mature well. 

 For the Middle States OLD MIXON FREE, OLD MIXON CLING, GEORGE THE FOURTH, RED 

 RARERIPE, ALEXANDER, SUPERB, MORRIS WHITE, COWPER S MONMOUTH, SUSQUEHANNA, VAN 

 ZANT S SUPERB, CRAWFORD S LATE, SURPASSE, CHINESE CLING, etc., together with many of 

 the above-mentioned hardy varieties. The kinds adapted to the South include about all 

 those previously mentioned, and the varieties of China peaches, which meet with satisfactory 

 results; also the LA GRANGE, GOVERNOR, THURBER, LATE RARERIPE, etc. In Florida and 

 some other parts of the South, peaches bear well in two years from the seed, the early kinds 

 ripening in May and June. 



Propagation. The peach is more easily propagated than any other fruit, arriving 

 quickly to a bearing age. When left to itself, a peach after being planted will produce a tree 

 that will come into bearing the third or fourth year in the cooler climate ; but a stone planted 

 in the autumn will grow during the ensuing spring and summer to the height of three or four 

 feet, and may be budded in the following August or September. In two years from this time 

 it will generally produce a small crop of fruit, and the following year will bear an abundant 

 crop, unless the soil is excessively rich, producing an over luxuriant growth of branches. The 

 following spring (in March), after budding the peach, the stock should be headed or cut back, 



