1248 



PEAR 



PEAR 



8th. Dig the hole in which a tree is to be planted true of at least very many varieties that even if blown, 



deep enough to receive 2 or 3 inches of fine soil, before off or gathered when }>ut two-tliirds grown, the frnit if 



putting the tree in place, maliing it large enough to put away as already deM-rihiil will usually acquire a 



allow the roots to be spread out in their natural posi- satisfactory quality. Fruits thus gathered and ripened 



tion. are found to have less tendency to decay rapidly at the 



9th. See that good, friable surface soil is well filled core. 



In beneath, among and over the roots. (c) Gathering and ripening of winter dessert Pears: 



10th. Should the soil be dry, with no immediate pros- These should remain upon the tree as long as practi- 



pect of rain, it will be w'ell. after nearly tilling the hole cable without danger from frost. When gathered, they 



With earth, to apply a pail of water, and after it shall should be placed in a cool, frost-proof room, and it will 



hare settled away, to fill up the hole] with earth and be well also to wrap each separately in soft paper. ' 



Some varieties are found to ripen perfectly 



.^^ __-^ without further attention, but the quality of 



^SfelTlSJ most Isinds will be much improved if they are 



1 rought into a temperature of 60° or 70° a fort- 



V^sJi-a-Sf ^'^^ night before their usual season of maturity. 



§X^ K- \\'^i'' "^-^ - ^°|b^ ('') Winter cooking Pears: These should be 



"''°^' '■ gathered and put away in close packages in a 



. J^ cool, frost-proof room, in the same manner as 



- -gar ^jiUHIIM.if russet apples, like which they will shrivel, and 



V > jS ^^ -»^_ ^BBP^^ become tough and leathery, if left exposed to 



'/■'?< _S^tliklf 3 Jidw^KS^^^^:- '''^ ^'"' '^''^y ™^y remain in this condition 



"^' / iWS^ ^^B^nS^0^^^^ until needed for use. 



"* " ■ - i3_ Paching and Marketing. — In America, 

 Pears are generally packed for market directly 

 from the tree, without awaiting the process of 

 1 ipening. Barrels are largely used as packages, 



_ ilthough this fruit is frequently put up in half- 



——■'-^•^'i' ■ barrels and sometimes in bushel, peck and even 



1689. Duchess Pear, the most popular variety for Erowing on in half-peck baskets. American growers rarely 



Quince roots. (See p.ige 1243.) ripen their fruit before marketing it. This, if 



done at all, is more generally accomplished by 



tramp it down firmly. Staking will rarely be found the dealer, doubtless with decided profit, since in the 



necessary, except, possibly, in the case of trees old larger cities fully fifty dollars have been known to be 



enough to have been already branched, but such stake paid for a single barrel of selected fruit, and yet the 



must be watched and the tree protected against injury same fruit ripened and offered in quantities to suit cus- 



by rubbing against it. tomers has been sold at two or three times the original 



11. Subseqiient Cultivation.— (a) Nev!\yp\a,ntedtrees: cost. The marketing of unripened Pears is obviously 

 Ground occupied by young trees must be kept well unprofitable so far as the producer is concerned, 

 cultivated during the spring and early summer. If hoed In Europe, the choicest fruits are carefully selected 

 crops are planted larger quantities of manure will be and house-ripened. When approaching their best con- 

 required, but in either case cultivation should cease as dition the fruits are separately wrapped in soft paper, 

 early as the beginning of August in order to hasten the and are then put up in packages of perhaps one or two 

 ripening of the young wood. This process should be dozens, and sent so as to appear upon the market when 

 continued during at least five or sis years, after which in the best possible condition. Such fruits command 

 green crops may be grown and plowed under as a prices quite in excess of what they would have realized 

 means, in part, of maintaining the fertility of the soil. had they been offered in an immature condition. 



(6) Mulching: Especially during the first few years 14. Varieties. — Since the popular and desirable va- 

 after planting, in case of hot, dry weather during the rieties of Pears may be found fully described in stand- 

 growing season, mulch may be applied to check evap- ard pomological works, such descriptions here are not 

 oration from the soil and to keep it cool, but it should deemed necessary. Among the very numerous varieties 

 not be permitted to take the place of cultivation. The of Pears described in such works there are doubtless 

 soil should be well pulverized before applying it. many possessing high quality and other valuable char- 



(c) Manuring: As stated under that head (5), manures acteristics, which, for some unexplained reason, have 



should be applied sparingly but regularly, preferably failed to attract the attention of growers. 



in late autumn, and should be plowed under, or other- Since varieties vary in their season of ripening with 



wise mixed with the soil at that time or in the early change of latitude, and often, to some extent, with 



spring, as a means of promoting early growth and the change of location, even in the same latitude, the desig- 



thorough ripening of the wood in advance of severe nation of such season becomes a matter of more or less 



cold. Thorough maturing of the wood should also be difficulty. In the following lists the season given will 



assisted, as already said, by ceasing cultivation the be approximately that between the forty-second and 



early part of August. forty-third parallels of north latitude. 



12. Gathering and Iiiiieiiimj the Fruit. — AU selected (n) Amateur Pears: It is as true of the Pear as of most 

 Pears, whether intendcl for the market or for use at other species of fruits, that very many varieties are of 

 home, should be carefuliv haiicl-]iii-ked. small size, unattractive appearance, or of such delicate 



(«) Gathering sumrner'and autumn Pears: With very texture when ripe as to disqualify them for the market, 



few exceptions all Pears acquire a higher quality if although they may possess, in an eminent degree, the 



gathered before they are fully ripe. The generally ae- peculiar characteristics which render them desirable, 



cepted rule is to gather the crop when an occasionally and to persons of cultivated taste, indispensable for the 



full grown, wormy specimen is ripe, or when there is a supply of the family. Such are termed amateur Pears, 



perceptible change in the color of the maturer sped- The following is a list of a few of the most popular of 



mens, or when the stem parts readily from the branch these, arranged approximately in the order of maturity: 

 if the fruit is slightly lifted. 



(6) Ripening summer and winter Pears: When gath- Name. Season* Kemarks. 



eredthe fruit should be placed in a cool room devoted to Madeleine m. e. July Earliest goo.l Pear. 



the purpose, and spread upon shelves, or in lack of a suit- Summer Doyenne e. July 



able room they may be placed in shallow boxes or gS?°f °°° ::;:;;::::; :^. Aug. I"'. ^"^.^ Excellent, but very per- 



drawers, where in due time they will acquire their full Dearborn m. e. Aug. [ishable. 



color and flavor. Since this fruit parts with moisture Rostiezer.! ...... ..!... m. Aug. la. Sept. 



quite freely, it, and especially the later ripening varie- Manning Elizabeth e. Aug. 



ties, should be protected from a drying atmosphere, par- Brandywine e.Aug. b.Sept. 



ticularly from drafts of air, which will cause the fruit 



, to shrivel and become tough and leathery. It is also *e, early; m, middle; b, beginning. 



