338 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



generally, were not good this year, but J. M. Chambers, 

 of Dover, tells me that the best he bought came from 

 my orchard, not far from the bay. Soil rather heavy. 



Question 4. I have both, twenty-seven years old. 



Question 5. Spring frost. The best crop of pears 

 I have ever had was in 1880. The preceding winter was 

 the coldest we ever had here, the mercury running as 

 low as 18° below zero. The peach crop was entirely 

 destroyed here. 



Question 6. No answer. 



Question 7. Early in Spring. Shallow. If I see 

 any sign of blight I stop all cultivation. 



Question 8. I use none ; some manure very heavily. 

 My pears, without manure, are better than theirs with 

 manure, but their trees are healthy and bear regularly 

 every year. 



Question 9. I have no particular system of trim- 

 ming except to shape the tree properly and keep off 

 water sprouts. I have hand-thinned, but with no good 

 results. 



Question 10. No one knows, and of course the 

 treatment is empirical. 



Question 11. No. 



Question 12. Yes, but not so much within the last 

 two years. I cannot say that they injure my trees. I 

 spray whale oil soap over them. 



