STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. • 65 



DISCUSSION. 



Question : What is the best pear for northern Maine ? 



Dr. Robinson : Bessemianca has been the most disseminated 

 and is a hardy tree. Ludovoska is also a good one. 



Question : Would Flemish Beauty stand the cold weather ? 



Dr. Robinson : It grows in our climate, but is by no means 

 a hardy tree. It takes it a great many years to become a tree of 

 any size. 



Question : Is there any way whereby the cracking of the 

 fruit can be prevented, by spraying or otherwise? 



Dr. Robinson : That is a very desirable thing, if it can be 

 found out. I have seen mulching recommended. Alfred Smith 

 recommended that, years ago ; but whether effective or not I do 

 not know. I doubt if it is. The theory was that it kept the 

 ground moist and so more favorable to the development of the 

 pear. 



Prof. Munson : The cracking of the pear is caused by a 

 specific fungus, and we know that this fungus is best con- 

 trolled by the use of the Bordeaux mixture, which was recom- 

 mended, last night, for the apple scab, and for other fungus dis- 

 eases. There is no doubt that with careful, systematic, applica- 

 tion of the Bordeaux mixture, we may grow the Flemish 

 Beauty. At the Experiment Station this year, some of the 

 finest specimens I ever saw were grown. They were sprayed 

 with Bordeaux mixture before the buds swelled, and two or 

 three times afterwards. 



]Mr. True : The Flemish Beauty proved, with me, very free 

 from that growth, this year. I may further state I have seen, 

 in Aroostook county, Flemish Beauty growine finely where 

 they thought they could grow no fruit. This was 12 or 15 

 years ago. 



