112 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1891. 



the middle of June and the middle of July but may be de- 

 stroyed by scattering ashes or dry dust from the road-bed over 

 the leaves. 



The greatest drawback in growing the pear is the disease 

 known as the pear-tree blight ; there have been various theories 

 advanced as to the cause of this disease but the fact that it has 

 appeared irregularly in most parts of the country, sometimes 

 in succeeding seasons and again after the lapse of several years 

 and run its course unchecked shows that the question of its 

 cause or cure is apparently as far from a solution as when it 

 first appeared. The most recent theory as to the disease is that 

 it is caused by bacteria which are said to be found in the dis- 

 eased wood, but whether the cause or effect, whether they pre- 

 cede or follow the disease, does not seem to be definitely settled. 

 The disease makes its appearance in the early summer and will 

 be seen by the leaves turning black ; if the tree is but slightly 

 afi'ected, by cutting away the diseased portion down to sound 

 wood it may disappear ; but if it appears generally through the 

 branches, showing the whole tree to be tainted, the loss of the 

 tree will almost invariably follow. 



The fruit of most varieties of the pear requires careful 

 thinning to secure satisfactory results ; while no definite rule 

 can be given it is safe to say no two specimens should be left 

 to touch each other while making their growth. Among the 

 smaller varieties the Seckel and Dana's Hovey, and of the larger 

 varieties the Angouleme, Clairgeau and Vicar will require care- 

 ful attention. For the benefit of those left to grow it is desir- 

 able to do the thinning as soon as the perfect, well-formed 

 specimens can be distinguished, removing the smaller and any 

 that show imperfections. 



The recent improvements in cold storage process have been 

 of great advantage to pear growers by extending the time dur- 

 ing which the fruit can be put on the market or the table in 

 good condition ; formerly the season for the Bartlett was limited 

 to two weeks ; now with a slight expense for storage it is ex- 

 tended over six weeks and the fine October varieties may be had 

 in good condition as dessert with the Thanksgiving and Christ- 

 mas dinners. 



