INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Xlll 



market, it would be folly to persist in growing it. The 

 desire to educate public taste in the choice of varieties 

 is laudable, but it is usually a thankless and unprofit- 

 able task. With these few preliminary remarks, the 

 point is reached where the question naturally suggests 

 itself : 



CAN PEARS BE GROWN WITH FAIR PROSPECTS OF 

 PROFIT ? 



If so, by what rules should the beginner be governed 

 in the start? There seems to be a settled belief (and 

 that, too, well-founded), that with a fair knowledge 

 of the business, and this knowledge guided by common 

 sense, pears can be grown with a flattering prospect of 

 getting in due time a handsome return on the outlay. 

 In the early stages of the growth of any business, ex- 

 travagant methods of preparation are very likely to be 

 recommended. This has been strikingly so with pear 

 culture in this country, and much has been expended 

 on trenching, thoroughly underd rain ing, and subsoil 

 plowing. These, of course, are all very well, and add 

 to the productive capacity of the soil. But they are 

 very expensive, and in many instances the outlay of 

 money is useless. There are some garden spots where 

 such improvements may be necessary, but where 

 orchard culture is intended, the matter should be 

 seriously considered before going to such heavy ex- 

 pense as this preparation requires. 



THE SOIL REQUIRED. 



A pampered, rich soil to start with is not essential 

 to sueeessf ul pear growing. Any piece of ground that, 



