152 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



1 and plant cover crops, as suggested for the apple. In many 

 sections the trees often begin to fruit when cultivation is 

 discontinued. 



Fertilizers. — Barnyard manure or green manure such as 

 clover turned under in the sjoring will insure fertility in the soil. 

 "W^iere a commercial fertilizer is used, six hundred pounds per 

 acre of 2-9-10 is recommended. 



Pruning. — All pruning should be done early in the spring 

 before the sap flows. Cut out all limbs that cross and form the 



head, as symmetri- 

 cally as possible, al- 

 lowing the sunlight 

 and air to reach all 

 parts of the tree 

 and thus prevent 

 the deadly action of 

 blight. The branch- 

 es, on the other 

 hand, should not be 

 exposed to the di- 

 rect rays of the sun. 

 Maintain sufficient 

 foliage to protect 

 the bark. On start- 

 ing the top, cut back 

 the leaders to about 

 twelve to fourteen 

 inches from the 

 ground. Each year for four years cut back the young growth 

 to about half and always keep the head of the tree low. Old 

 trees may be cut back severely and allowed to build a new head. 

 The young growth should be pruned so as to keep the head 

 the desired shape and height. Pears are sometimes planted 

 close to a wall and tied to a trellis. The branches are trained 

 fan-shape, and this method of culture is not only artistic but 

 productive. 



Thinning. — It is always advisable to thin the fruit, leaving 

 the pears from three to six inches apart on the limb. This 

 should be done when the pears are quite small, less than the size 

 of a quarter. 



Harvesting. — For keeping, gather pears before they are dead 

 ripe, and place on shelves in a dark, cool room. 



Insects and disease. — One of the worst insect enemies is the 



Fig. 72. — Right and wrong ways of cutting off shoots. 

 a, the right way; h, c^d, wrong ways. — U. S. Dept. 

 of Agriculture. 



