i\^otcs and Glcaniugs. 169 



An Iowa Pear Garden. — A very superior collection of pears was exhib- 

 ited at the Iowa State Fair, by Mr. John Given, whose orchard is situated on the 

 banks of the Mississippi River, overlooking a portion of the city of Keokuk. It 

 is a loamy clay on the surface, with a firm clay underneath. Here we found 

 one hundred and seventy-five as handsome young pear trees as we ever had tlie 

 pleasure of witnessing. 



His ground, in the first place, was trenched two feet deep, not only a deep hole 

 dug and filled again to a proper depth to plant the tree, but all over : as Mr. 

 Given says, he dug just one hole, and that extended over his entire grounds. 

 He did not manure any, and does not believe in it. He planted none but choice, 

 healthy, vigorous trees, and would not take any others as a gift ; and none others 

 are worth planting, in comparison to such as he plants. So determined was he 

 in this, that he would have the first choice of trees, regardless of cost, and paid 

 as high as two dollars and fifty cents each for some. 



We were never more completely convinced of the importance of this matter of 

 planting only the most vigorous growing trees. A tree in high health, and full 

 of vigor and power, will most surely -come to a bearing condition sooner than 

 one of a weaker or slower growth. 



These trees are planted about ten feet apart; and although the cost of trench- 

 ing this lot, 50 X 100, was about one hundred dollars, a short time will prove that 

 this labor is worth many times its cost. The trees in this lot are nearly all 

 standard, and Mr. Given prefers them entirely to dwarfs. Some have made a 

 growth of from eight to nine feet the present season, while all, with one single 

 exception, have made a splendid growth. We looked in vain for blight, but 

 found not the slightest trace or indication of it in a single leaf or limb, and were 

 told that there never had been any. We have long ago believed, and are now 

 more thoroughly convinced, that pear trees, to be successful, must be planted on 

 none but undoubtedly dry soil. 



These trees are on soil that will never have a surplus amount of water about 

 their roots, and we have not much doubt but that to this fact alone can be attrib- 

 uted the entire absence of blight. They are positively the healthiest looking 

 trees we ever saw. 



Mr. Given's system of pruning is partly after a method of his own. His trees 

 are so handsomely formed as to be without a fault ; and as an evidence of what 

 may be learned in a short time, Mr. Given told us that six years ago he did not 

 know a pear from a cherry tree — knew nothing of planting and treating trees ; 

 but he bought books, gained information, had a natural tact and taste, and now 

 his lot cannot be visited by any one without learning many things of importance : 

 we acknowledge we came away a wiser man on the subject of pear culture. To 

 his success we attribute the following important requisites : a dry location, 

 trenching his land, no manure, the selection of none but the most healthy and 

 vigorous trees, the careful planting, clean shallow culture, careful and judi- 

 cious pruning. The pruning he trusts to no one, but does it with his own 

 hands. 



Six years ago this lot had on it just two cherry trees and one plum tree. All 

 these pear trees have been since planted, and this fall Mr. Given exhibited thirty 



