PEARS. CULTIVATION. 173 



improved in flavor ; all but some particular winter kinds, 

 which are said in some cases to become worse. 



The young, luxuriant shoots of the pear tree, by being 

 bent downwards, generally produced the finest possible 

 bearing wood for the second year ; and by grafting on the 

 quince, and bending the branches, fruit may be produced 

 from a seedling pear in the third or fourth year from the 

 seed, which, in the common course, would require from 

 seven to fourteen years. That system of rendering trees 

 productive I have fully described in the former part of this 

 work, at page 44. I am inclined to believe it to be the 

 best system of all others. 



As to standards, (pyramids,) very little other pruning is 

 necessary, except taking out those few limbs that interfere 

 in keeping the tree well balanced. 



The diseases and enemies of the pear tree are few. 

 They are as follows : 



1st. The Slug-Worm. I have given directions for the 

 destruction of this insect under the general head of Insects. 



2d. The worm which in summer envelops the leaves 

 and branches with its silken covering, devouring the leaf 

 to a skeleton. These are to be removed, together with 

 the leaves on which they are found feeding, and destroyed. 



3d. Curculio. An account of this insect is to be found 

 under the general head of Insects. 



4th. The insect called the White Mealy Insect. See 

 also Insects, under the general head. 



5th. Blight, or, as it is sometimes called, fire-blight, is a 

 malady not very common, which sometimes affects the pear 

 tree during the months of June and July, causing the tree, 

 or a portion of its branches, suddenly to turn black, with 

 a mortal affection ; its leaves wither at once, as by a stroke 

 of the sun, and in a few hours become of a brown or black 

 color. Mr. Lowell is persuaded that this disease is caused 

 by an insect, called the Scolytus pyri. He observes, " On 

 the first appearance of this disease, I instantly sawed off 

 all the limbs affected, and proceeded to examine them. I 

 found at last the enemy, not at the point where death en- 

 sued, but some inches below it. The insect was very small 

 and apparently incapable of such extensive mischief; but 

 the effect was certain, and the manner of producing that 

 effect was obvious. It had eaten a complete circle of the 

 alburnum, or sap-wood, not exceeding the size of a knit 

 15* 



