262 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



SOILS FOR THE PEAR 



The pear, if it is not allowed to dry out entirely, will generally 

 do well on shallow soil and over a tight clay hard-pan, where most 

 other fruits would be unsatisfactory or fail utterly. The trees will 

 thrive in clay loams, and even in adobe, if properly cultivated. In 

 laying out fruit farms, which often include a variety of soils, even 

 in comparatively small area, the pears and plums (if on the right 

 stock, as will be seen) should be set in the lower, moister, stiffer 

 soil, and other fruits on the lighter, warmer, and better drained 

 portions. The pear, however, enjoys the better situation, though 

 it will thrive on the poorer. The tree seems to attain its greater 

 growth and heavier bearing on the alluvial soils of the valleys and 

 near the banks of rivers and streams. All pears will be later in 

 maturing and have better keeping qualities if grown on a clay sub- 

 soil. Thus it appears that the pear will flourish whether the water 

 is near or far from the surface. On wet land the apple is apt to die 

 in a few years, or become worthless. On dry land the apple may 

 live longer than on wet land, but the fruit will be small and taste- 

 less. But the pear tree may bear good fruit, under both extreme 

 conditions. 



It has been learned by experience that the pear will flourish on 

 soil somewhat alkaline. At the University Agricultural Experiment 

 Station at Tulare, this subject was demonstrated in detail. It was 

 shown that though the pear endures a certain amount of alkali its 

 limit of endurance may be often exceeded and there is little warrant 

 to select alkali soil for pears, unless it be to fill a space that would 

 otherwise be vacent in the orchard. If it is not too alkaline the 

 pears will thrive. If gypsum be used in planting, somewhat 

 stronger alkali will be endured than otherwise. 



PROPAGATION AND PLANTING 



The use of dwarfing stock for the pear has been nearly aban- 

 doned in this State, though in early years the quince was largely 

 used. The most prominent orchard on quince stock is that of A. 

 Block, of Santa Clara, where may be seen dwarf trees originally 

 planted eight feet apart in squares, but now wider spaced by re- 

 moving part of the trees; the remainder doing exceedingly well 

 under liberal manuring and irrigation. It would, however, require 

 special investigation to determine whether these trees are still de- 

 pendent upon the quince or whether they have developed roots from 

 the pear wood above. 



It is quite possibe that, at least for gardens, there may be in 

 the future more use made of dwarf trees; but for commercial 

 orchards there appears no need of dwarfing. The common con- 

 clusion is that it is better to have fewer trees and larger ones, but 

 since the pear blight became an issue in this State the quince 

 has been advocated as a means of maintaining a sound root and 

 keeping the warfare above ground. The best known dwarf pear 

 orchard of recent planting is that of the Hillgirt Orchards in the 



