1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



257 



PEAR TB.EES, 



Why is it that the pear tree does not flourish 

 in every locality? 



This question is often asked. It has been at- 

 tributed by some to their situation or proximity 

 to the ocean ; and among others, by Downing. 

 This theory he could not sustain, and hence, a 

 few years after, he rescinded it, and remarked, 

 that "a larger observation of the effects of the 

 composition of soils, convinced us, that much of 

 what we attributed to climate, was simply to a 

 want of inorganic, or mineral manures in the 

 soil." We apprehend that the want of proper 

 soil in the first place, and the method of apply- 

 ing so much animal manure, not composted, in 

 the second, to be frequently the difficulty in cul- 

 tivating the pear tree. Regarding the proper 

 dressing of land for fruit trees, our design is to 

 follow nature in her modes of enriching the soil, 

 or in other words, to use vegetable and mineral 

 manure more generally in the application of 

 leaves in compost with wood ashes, and peat and 

 shell lime. 



Another objection we should have, to the use 

 of unfermented animal manure, is, that it stimu- 

 lates, and as a consequence of this over-supply 

 or forcing, induces a sort of plethora, or tender- 

 ness in the tree, from a too rapid and forced 

 growth ; hence we prefer to see a moderate and 

 regular growth. We believe that good pasture 

 land is better fitted for fruit trees, than that 

 which has been long under the plow, because it 

 is not exhausted of that decomposed vegetable 

 and mineral matter, which is fitted to be the food 

 of trees ; the wood also ripening better. We 

 have long observed that young trees, particular- 

 ly the cherry, if making a great growth in the 

 summer, was extremely apt to die out in the fol- 

 lowing winter, owing, undoubtedly, to its succu- 

 lent grovyth, and want of ripeness in the new 

 wood. 



the plaster, and render it less efficacious as a fer- 

 tilizer? Will it have the power to fix the am- 

 monia of the urine ? 



Every farmer, who has an iron boiler, may 

 calcine his own plaster at a trifling expense ; and 

 if it will absorb four times the amount of urine, 

 and retain the ammonia, I think it must make 

 a very powerful fertilizer, especially if the urine 

 is allowed to become putrid before mixing. 



Framinyltam, March 15, 1859. e. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 A XEW AND USEFUL FEKTILIZEK. 

 I have used, for several years a mixture of plas- 

 ter and urine, at planting, to give corn a start. 

 1 first saturate the plaster with urine, then 



Remakks. — We do not learn, upon inquiry, 

 that any advantage will be derived from the 

 plaster for the purposes you speak of, by cal- 

 cining it. That process will cost something, and 

 that cost had better be expended in the purchase 

 of more plaster. 



FoT the New England Farmer. 

 TRAjSTSPL ANTING TRESS. 



The supporting of trees after setting is a more 

 important operation than it is generally consid- 

 ered. There are many methods or ways in which 

 this is done ; sometimes by pegs driven into the 

 ground from which ropes are fastened and car- 

 ried to the tree, but more generally by poles 

 set against them in a triangular form. When 

 newly-transplanted trees are swayed about by 

 strong winds, the formation of new roots is pre- 

 vented, or often destroyed, and cavities formed 

 at the base, admitting too much air, v/hich de- 

 ranges the roots. The best plan for supporting 

 a newly-set tree is the following : 



After digging the holes to their proper depth 

 and circumference, I then with a crow-bar make 

 a hole in *^he centre of the place to receive the 

 tree, into which I insert firmly a short pole or 

 stake, that shall at the other end reach nearly to 

 the branches. I then place the tree along its 

 extent ; and then with a wisp or collar of some 

 soft material, such as straw, moss, or sea-weed, 

 bind it around the point of pressure, and tie it 

 firmly. This plan of setting maintains the per- 

 pendicular position of the tree, and I commend 

 it to those setting out either fruit or ornamental 

 trees. For the latter I consider it admirably 

 adapted, as trees in our cities and towns are so 

 often destroyed by being swayed about by boys, 

 and sometimes by the horns of cattle. 



Salem, April, 1859. j. m. I. 



Steeps for Seeds. — The above subject has 

 for a long time engaged the attention of many 

 spread upon a tight floor, stir and turn with I experimenters, and with various results. Strong 

 a hoe occasionally, and, when dry, pulverize. I 'solutions of any of the well-kno^¥n materials 

 have sometimes mixed dry plaster with the mass, used, are apt to injure the germs of seeds, while 

 without v/aiting for it entirely to dry, before pul-: weaker solutions, being held by the spongy coat- 

 verizing. In this case more should be used in a ings, frequently not only secure earlier germina- 

 hill. About a great spoonful (heaped,) to a hill, 'tions, but by a' timely supply of necessary pabu- 

 of the strongly saturated mass gives the corn ajlum, secure vigorous plants, which, as a necessi- 

 fine start. It should be scattered in the hill, andjty of proper conditions in their early stages of 

 not lie in a heap on the corn, as that would in- growth, yield larger returns. Among the mate- 

 jure, and sometimes entirely prevent the growth, j rials used we would enumerate the following: — 

 A friend suggests, that, as caZcniec? plaster has Saltpetre, Sulphate of Ammonia, Carbonate of 

 several times the absorbing power that the un-iSoda, Soluble Phosphate of Lime, etc. We 

 calcined has, it wonui be far better to mix with should be glad to learn from those who have 

 urine. How is this? Will not the calcining used steeps, what has been their success.— IFor/c- 

 process expel some of the valuable properties ouing Farmer. 



