

THE PEAR. 



Pyrus communis, L. Rosacea of botanists. 



NATIVE of Europe and Asia, the pear has long been cultivated, 

 but not until within the past three centuries has there been any con- 

 siderable number of sorts esteemed valuable as dessert fruits, ex- 

 cept they were cooked. Of Van Mons, Knight, and others, and 

 their exertions in originating and improving fruit, have we before 

 written ; and to their skill and care do we owe many of our best 

 imported varieties; while, in this country, we are not the less indebt- 

 ed to such men as H. A. S. Dearborn, David Thomas, M. P. Wilder, 

 J. P. Kirtland, W. D. Brinckle, and many others, for the importation, 

 origin, and dissemination of the best varieties throughout the States. 



Our pioneer settlers all planted seeds of the pear, as well as of 

 the apple ; and while in nearly all the middle- portions of the States 

 there are immense trees, healthy and vigorous as the native forests, 

 few of these chance seedlings prove in fruit more than about one 

 remove from the wild state. To this fact, and the erroneous impres- 

 sion that " he who plants pears, plants for his heirs," we attribute 

 the neglect of fruit-growers, for years, to plant any considerable 

 number of pear trees. Gradually, however, as facilities of traveling 

 have increased, giving opportunity of comparing impressions with 

 practice and results, and information become freely disseminated 

 through our agricultural and horticultural journals, have pear plan- 

 tations increased, until at this time there are, probably, yearly plant- 

 ed in the States not less than one million of trees. 



In almost every State, there appear certain localities where the 

 pear succeeds most perfectly, continuing to increase in size, vigor, 

 and productiveness, from year to year. The following may be 

 selected from many: Danvers in Mass., Hartford and East New 

 Haven County, in Conn., Vincennes in la., Detroit in Mich., and 

 north-western or central New York. And indeed we may find it 

 difficult to name a section where, with the appropriate care in cul- 

 ture here pointed out, the pear may not be grown healthy and pro- 

 ductive. 



Propagation. By seed. The propagation of the pear by seed is 

 the same as that of the apple, if we except the fact that, as the roots 

 of the pear the first year are generally confined to the one " tap- 

 root," as it is termed, and a few fibres, it is necessary that the soil 

 be at least two feet deep. Old pasture ground or meadow trenched 

 with the spade is the best for the growing of pear seedlings. 



1.3* (297) 



