84 



years in succession, then rest in grass for three or four years. 

 My trees are pruned a little annually in the spring ; avoid 

 cutting large limbs, by cutting out, while small, such as will 

 interfere, when grown, with others. 



My trees have been troubled by fire blight, so called, and 

 more, I think, when manured the most ; also somewhat by 

 slugs in August. I know of no remedy for the blight. 

 When attacked by it, the tree usually dies in about three 

 years. I have tried cutting off the diseased branches, but 

 with little success. The slugs may be destroyed by dust of 

 any kind. 



I think Standards the most profitable to set out for orchard 

 culture, and Dwarfs for amateurs, or small gardens. Stand- 

 ards will produce larger results, and are more easily culti^ 

 vated. 



Summer and Fall pears should be picked when they begin 

 to drop, which is before they are ripe ; Winter pears about 

 the middle of October. Summer pears ripen in about a 

 week, and Fall pears in about two weeks after picking. 



Pears should be picked carefully into boxes or barrels and 

 placed in a cool, dry, (^. e.) not damp cellar, not allowing 

 them to wilt by being too dry, and as near 35 or 40 degrees 

 as possible. 



For profit, only well known Standard varieties should be 

 grown. The Beurre Giffard is good size and quality for an 

 early variety ; bears well. Clapp's Favorite comes next in 

 ripening, is very showy, good quality, and productive. Bart- 

 lett is perhaps the most profitable of any, comes in bearing 

 young, very productive and popular, large and showy, quali- 

 ty that almost every one admires. Seckel, best quality, pro- 

 lific, sells well, very small unless thoroughly thinned out. 

 Beurre Bosc is large and beautiful, sells well, but comes late 

 into bearing ; does well on gravelly sub-soil. Sheldon, very 

 beautiful and fine, sells well. Beurre Clairgeau is a great 

 bearer, commences young, very large and beautiful, but noj; 

 of first quality; sells well. Duchesse d'Angouleme is lar- 



