34 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



some of it. and some of our land carries quite a larg-e per- 

 centage of iron in the soil ; that is, the granite rock from the 

 mountain above seems to have a good deal of iron in it so 

 that the rock is rusty, and sometimes I think that has some- 

 thing to do in helping us in the matter of color. But you 

 can hardly class our soil as a limestone, though we have 

 apparently lime enough so that it doesn't seem to be neces- 

 sary to apply any lime to our soil. 



Mr. Tyler : How long will it take to get a pear orchard 

 going? 



Mr. Cornell: For the Bartletts we will have to wait five 

 or six years. We older men wouldn't think that long, but 

 the younger men would have to plant something that would 

 come ahead a little quicker. Now the Seckel with me v.ill 

 commence to bear quite freely in from seven to eight years,^ 

 that is about the period for the average pear tree. The Bart- 

 lett is a little earlier, and we have to guard against that for 

 it may produce in two or three years. I have not grown any- 

 thing ripening later than the Bosc, for the simple reason that 

 the use of cold storage extends the season as long as we care 

 for it. We find after the middle of November, or the latter 

 part of November, there is no improvement in the market ; 

 in fact, the demand falls off. I have grown the Josephine 

 and some others. If I was going to plant a later pear, I 

 would prefer the Nellis. 



Mr. Root : Do you do any other pruning except what you 

 prune for blight? 



Mr. Cornell: In the matter of pruning I use simplv 

 good judgment. I think Mr. Hale will say and agree with 

 me fully, that we don't want a tree away up in the air, and 

 we are all coming down to keeping the heads cut low. There 

 are some varieties like the Bartlett and the Clairgeau that 

 have a tendency to go away up, and we simply cut them back 

 so as to make the tree we want. 



Mr. Platt : Do you find the Bosc a good grower? 



Mr. Cornell: It is a good grower after it becomes estab- 

 lished ; it is a poor grower out of the nursery ; it takes some 

 little time, but after it becomes thoroughly established it is 

 a good strong grower. It will make a large tree, and it is a 



