388 The CanadianSHorticulturist. 



time of the first frosts here, say the early part of November. But some can be 

 gathered earlier than this and ripened indoors. When all are picked and stored 

 indoors, they ripen one after another for a period of a couple of months. 

 There are really but few good winter pears, which is what makes this of so much 

 value. There is one way in which this fine pear can be had, not only all 

 winter, but all the next summer^too, and this is by canning it. It is one of the 

 very best of them'all for this purpose, possessing a flavor which suits the taste 

 of almost every one. If a half dozen pears are to be planted, let one of them 

 without fail be a Lawrence. — Practical Farmer. 



FERTILIZING THE ORCHARD. 



HERE is much yet to be 

 learned respecting the fer- 

 tilizing of orchard lands. 

 In general, nitrogen can be 

 supplied in sufficient 

 quantity by thorough till- 

 age and the use of occa- 

 sional cover crops of crimson clover, 

 peas or vetch. In fact, it seems to be 

 easy to apply too much nitrogen on 

 some lands, causing the trees to make 

 a too heavy growth. Young trees make 

 light drafts of potash and phosphoric 

 acid, and it is probable that apples and 

 pears do not need much fertilizing on 

 good soils for the first three or four 

 years, if they are given good cultiva- 

 tion, unless other crops are grown with 

 them. But just as soon as the trees 

 show an inclination to bear, judicious 

 applications of the mineral fertilizers 

 may be made. If this fertilizing is 

 begun thus early in the life of the 

 orchard, and if the tillage is good. 



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Fig. 1015. — Roots of an Apple Tree in Sod. 



