300 



As the pear tree is not infested by the borer, it has 

 been employed as a stock for the quince tree, and if bud- 

 ded or grafted a foot or more from the ground, it must 

 generally be safe from such attacks. 



The quince tree like the pear tree, however, is subject 

 to fire blight ; but only a few inches of the ends of the 

 branches, suffer. Whether this appearance is owing to 

 the more stunted nature of the tree, or to a different in- 

 sect, is not positively known ; but as it is probably caused 

 by an insect, it would be prudent to cut off the dying tops, 

 and burn them. 



Though winter pears have something like a determinate 

 time for ripening, or becoming soft, yet this period may 

 be accelerated or retarded, by increasing or diminishing 

 the temperature of the place where they are kept. Our 

 experiments on this point within the last year, have been 

 very conclusive. Pears of a sort that had continued hard 

 until spring in a cool cellar, have ripened toward the 

 close of autumn, in a warm room ; and by placing them 

 in different temperatures, the season for each particular 

 kind, may be greatly extended. 



When winter fruit is buried in the ground for long keep, 

 ing, it should be placed in a box, or on a bed of straw, 

 and be well covered with the same, so as not to come in 

 contact with the damp earth, which causes it to swell, 

 crack, and lose its flavor ; and to prevent it from becom- 

 ing musty, it should be kept in an out-house, till the 

 ground begins to freeze. We have never known fruit to 

 be damaged, that was treated in this manner, and then 

 timely removed in the spring. 





