266 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



fruit, but we can't carry this out in practical field culture. 

 Rain water, light, heat, etc., all do their part in growing 

 the pear, and have been explained in their relations to 

 growth, when we were speaking of the peach. In fact, 

 the fartilizing of the pear differs very little, if any. from 

 the fertilizing of the peach, and as all this has been 

 fully treated of under the head of the latter fruit, nothing 

 more need be said here. 



For formulae for fertilizers, see those given for 

 peaches. They are all equally useful for the pear, and 

 are to be applied to them in the same way, and in the 

 same quantities, more or less, as to peaches. 



Salt is good applied to pear trees as a fertilizer. It 

 gives chlorine, etc., and is detrimental to the slug and 

 other pests. Formerly, I used it to a considerable 

 extent, but since kainit has become cheap and obtain- 

 able, I rely, generally, on the salt contained in it. 



TREE WASHES FOR PEARS. 



Use the washes recommended for peaches; also, 

 one pound caustic potash to one gallon water. Apply 

 with a whitewash brush late in March, or in April. 

 This is too strong for buds and small twigs. 



Another : Caustic soda, one pound, water, one 

 gallon. Use as the other wash. This may touch the 

 buds and small shoots, and will, probably, not injure 



