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FRUITS 225 



seriously injured in all regions where the red cedar 

 is common. 



Pears (^Pyrus sps.^. — The varieties of pears mostly 

 cultivated at the North are of European origin, and 

 these, as a rule, do not succeed well at the South. All 

 the varieties of the Oriental race, however, are per- 

 fectly well adapted to Southern conditions and a few 

 of them are extensively grown for market. Unlike 

 the European kinds which do best on strong clay- 

 loam soils, these thrive in even the lightest sands 

 and can be successfully grown throughout the cotton 

 belt, along the Gulf coast, and even in peninsular 

 Plorida. To succeed, however, they must be budded 

 on Oriental roots. They will not thrive if propa- 

 gated on European roots or on the quince. 



Some fertilizer must be used on very light soils to 

 secure sufficient growth, but, as will be more fully 

 explained in discussing blight, great care must be 

 taken not to overfertilize. 



It is usual to give clean cultivation during the 

 first two or three years. After this, custom varies ; 

 some growers, especially on the heavier soils, prefer- 

 ring to plant the ground to some cover crop or even 

 let it grow up to grass. 



Unlike most other fruits, pears do not develop 

 their best quality if allowed to hang on the tree un- 

 til entirely ripe. They should be picked Avhen fully 

 grown or as soon as the seeds have hardened and be 

 placed in a close dark place to ripen. The rule usu- 

 ally followed in picking is to take them as soon as 

 the stem will part readily from the tree when the pear 

 is lifted. If allowed to tree ripen, many varieties 



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