THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 9 1 



The blooming period is that of full bloom. The data were taken from 

 trees grown under normal conditions as to pruning, distance apart, and as 

 to all other factors which might influence the blooming period. There is 

 a variation of several days between the time of full bloom of the different 

 varieties of pears. These differences can be utilized in selecting sorts to 

 avoid injury from frost. In using blooming-time data it must be kept 

 constantly in mind that varieties of fruits may not bloom in the same 

 relative time. In very warm or very cold springs the usual relations of 

 blooming-time may be upset. 



Rainfall, moisture, and cloudiness are most important in growing pears. 

 England, Belgium, and northern France, regions where the pear finds the 

 climate most congenial, have much cool, moist, cloudy weather with much 

 less variation in temperature than is the case in the United States. The 

 climate of New York and the states bordered by the Great Lakes where 

 most of the pears of eastern America are grown, is cooler, moister, and 

 cloudiness is more prevalent than in other eastern states. The summer 

 climate of the Pacific slope is not moist but is equable and, in the best 

 pear orchards, moisture is supplied abundantly by irrigation. From these 

 considerations we may assume that the pear requires more moisture than 

 most other fruits. The pear in New York more often suffers from too little 

 than from too much rain. The exception is when pears are in bloom, at 

 which time the crop is sometimes lost or badly injured by cold, wet 

 weather. Warm, moist weather is favorable to both fire-blight and the 

 scab fungus, the two most dreaded diseases of the pear. 



Several other weather problems should be studied before selecting a 

 region as a site for a pear-orchard. The direction, force, and frequency 

 of prevailing winds both in winter and summer are important considerations. 

 Unfavorable winds in winter favor winter-killing; in blooming time prevent 

 the proper setting of fruit; and at ripening time make many windfalls. 

 Hail storms are more frequent in some parts of New York than in others 

 and may be a deterrent in selecting a site. Lastly, drouths, so fatal to 

 the pear, are more common in some parts of the State than in others. 



LOCATIONS AND SOILS FOR PEARS 



Pears thrive in a great diversity of soils, provided, almost always, that 

 there is depth for proper root-run. A few varieties may be grown in 

 comparatively shallow soils, but most pears are deep-rooted. The common 

 pear is rather averse to sand, gravels, and light soils in general, and does 



