62 



(Pe.ich trees with the "curled leaf" can be cured by a dust 

 ing one or twice with wood ashes when the tree is wet.) 

 Mr. Wra. McRae, of Lawrence, states that his pear trees 

 were troubled with "Rose bugs," which were destroyed by 

 burning tar under the trees. 



We would advise our farmers and fruit o:rowers, intending 

 to set out pear trees for profit, to carefully ascertain what 

 varieties are the most profitable in their immediate vicinity, on 

 similar soil as their own, and not try, except for experiment, 

 other varieties, until tested by themselves or their neighbors, 

 as the same variety that does well in one place, is unprofitable 

 in another, so that although a certain number of varieties are 

 recommended by our Society for general culture, some of 

 them do much better in that part where the soil is best 

 adapted for them, which can only be ascertained by actual 

 test, and if done thoroughly throughout the county, and the 

 mode of culture of the trees, with the result attained, in- 

 cluding the number and variety of trees planted and the 

 varieties succeeding the best, communicated to our Society, 

 would enable it not only to recommend a larger number of 

 varieties, but also state the parts of the county best adapted 

 to the successful culture of each variety. 



All unite in stating the best time for picking fruit to be 

 when the stem separates readil}^ from the twig upon lifting 

 the fruit. Change of color and the premature dropping of 

 the fruit, forced rijpe as it is commonly called, is another 

 good indication. All kinds of pears should be picked off 

 before ripening; many choice varieties are almost worthless, 

 if allowed to ripen on the trees. Mr. Barry, when editor of 

 the "Horticulturist," aptly stated: "The process of ripen- 

 ing on the tree, which is the natural one, seems to act upon 

 the fruit for the benefit of the seed, as it tends to the forma- 

 tion of woody fibre and farina. When the fruit is removed 

 from the tree at the very commencwnent of ripening, and 

 placed in a still atmosphere, the natural process seems to be 

 counteracted, and sugar and juice are elaborated instead of 



