I'EAftfi. 1 77 



plant in April, as the cold of winter might greatly in- 

 jure them. The soil for pear trees ought to be two 

 or three feet deep, and they should be planted shal- 

 low, that the roots may spread near the surface, and 

 enjoy the benefit of the sun and air ; and by some it 

 is accounted useful to expose the same side to the sun 

 as when in the nursery. Pear trees require but little 

 pruning, comparatively with the apple, and if carried 

 to excess, it proves very injurious. All dead branch- 

 es, however, and even thrifty ones, which interfere 

 and chafe each other, and every sucker proceeding 

 from the trunk or roots, should be carefully removed. 

 Every large wound should be covered with the com- 

 position or cement, as a security against the effects of 

 the sun and weather. If affected with diseases, or in- 

 fested with insects, the appropriate remedies, recom- 

 mended for apple trees, must be applied. In the Ag- 

 ricultural Repository, vol. iv. is a communication from 

 Mr. Hammon, of Talbot county, Maryland, to the fol- 

 lowing purport. "Pear trees, and other fruit trees, 

 are frequently affected, and sometimes suddenly de- 

 cay, without discovering the causes of their decline. 

 A gentleman of this neighbourhood, some years ago, 

 observing the situation of his trees, and having unsuc- 

 cessfully used many applications, at length dir ected 

 their trunks or bodies to be washed with soft s-oap ; 

 and it is not easy to imagine the early change which 

 appeared in the bark and foliage : the bark became 

 smooth and glossy, and seemed sound and beautiful ; 

 and he thought the tree was greatly improved in ev> 

 ery respect. I have tried the same experiment, and 

 with equal advantage to apple trees ; and am persuad- 

 ed they have been greatly benefited by this process. 

 It is used in the spring, and may be repeated in the 

 following years, as frequently as the trees appear to 

 require it. Mr. Peters declares, that he used soap 

 suds without beneficial effects ; but it is probable that 

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