344 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



the ground cultivated enough to keep the weeds under, 

 and until well-grown, plant beans, sweet corn, etc. 

 While young, plough shallow near the trees, but ordi- 

 nary depth away from them. 



Question 8. Stable manure and muriate of potash. 

 About 400 lbs. of potash once in three or four years and 

 a dressing of manure yearly, especially while you crop 

 the land. 



Question 9. Prune in March, usually, so as to make 

 a good shaped tree. I always thin Bartletts and Duchess ; 

 some years one-half or two-thirds of the fruit, thereby 

 getting great increase in size and improvement in flavor. 



Question 10. I have not been able to form an opin- 

 ion, and all I do is to cut it away as soon as it shows it- 

 self. 



Question 11. Standard pear trees have no worms, 

 and if the Dwarf are set right so that the quince is cov- 

 ered by the soil, they will not be troubled by the borer. 



Question 12. Slugs check the growth of young 

 trees. Dry dust is as good as anything to put over them, 

 by the hand. 



Question 13. There is no pear curculio like the 

 plum, apricot, etc., but a worm similar to the common 

 apple worm ; and in thinning, if late enough to have it 

 show, thin out the wormy ones. 



