ESSEX SOCIETY. 81 



spring. These views are more suited to the climate of New 

 York and New Jersey, than of Massachusetts ; for I apprehend 

 the experience of pear growers, in this region, will show that 

 the tree, when set out in the fall, does not put out any new roots 

 before the winter sets in. Manning, in his work on trees, says, 

 "The impression, that fibres will form in the autumn from 

 newly set trees, is common, but I have never witnessed it." 

 Cold weather sets in, in this state, so soon after the leaves fall, that 

 there is no time for the trees to get started. Another objection 

 to fall planting is, that the trees, not taking root, are more liable 

 to get disturbed in their places by the storms and high winds, 

 than when set out in the spring. If transplanted in autumn, it 

 should be done as soon as the trees shed their leaves freely. 



Treatment after transplanting. A pear tree needs cultivation 

 after it is set out. The ground should be kept open and mellow, 

 and until the tree has been set out six to eight years at the least, 

 the ground should not be laid down to grass, and then not more 

 than one or two years at a time. The best way to enrich the 

 soil about the roots of the tree, is to cover the surface of the 

 ground around the trunk with manure in the autumn, which 

 will serve as a protection against the frost in the winter, and 

 the liquid which leaches from it into the ground will afford 

 proper nourishment for the roots, and in the spring to spade the 

 manure into the ground. This should be done every year. It 

 is better to do it regularly, than to give it an occasional heavy 

 manuring. If the tree should be too luxuriant, it is well to lay 

 bare the roots two or three weeks in the fall, and with a sharp 

 instrument to cut off the tap-root. Air-slacked lime or ashes, 

 applied to the soil, promotes the growth of fruit-spurs and buds. 

 The pear tree needs but very little pruning, except when the 

 branches become diseased. 



Diseases of Pear Trees. The principal diseases to which pear 

 trees are subject are insect blight and the frozen sap blight. 

 The insect blight shows itself in June and July. The end of 

 the branch suddenly turns brown, and in a few days black and 

 hard. The insect which causes this, is called the scolytus pyri. 

 It is a species of beetle, not more than one tenth of an inch in 

 length. It deposits its eggs in July and August, in or near the 

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