68 PEAR ORCHARDS. 



will be produced in perfection in one soil, while a mile distant, and 

 in one of precisely similar appearance, they fail to be anything more 

 than second rate, is a mystery that has puzzled those of large experi- 

 ence, and even mocked all investigation. 



The same may be said, in some respects, in regard to the Apple. 

 The writer says he can't grow the Rhode Island Greening on his soil, 

 while just across the valley, at a distance of three miles, in soil appa- 

 rently similar, it is grown almost to perfection. 



In case we intend to grow Pears for profit, it is unwise to make it a 

 point to grow ninety-nine varieties ; as that practice has already, in 

 many cases, proved a failure. Hence, decide in the first place the 

 kinds best adapted to your soil, if possible. A member of this 

 committee having tried a few varieties, and succeeded so well in grow- 

 ing both wood and fruit, has come to the conclusion that the kinds 

 adapted to his soil are the Bartlett and Seckel, as standards, which 

 should be set eighteen feet apart, and Duchesse between. In another 

 locality, however, perhaps in the same iieighborbood, the Belle Lucrative 

 and Beurre d'Anjou, or the Lawrence and Sheldon, as standards, and 

 the Bonne d'Jersey might excel the Duchesse. 



Now, to remedy the evil of being at so much expense in planting 

 trees, and in a few years being obliged to re-set with other varieties, a 

 Farmers' Club should be formed in every town, and each farmer who 

 intends to grow Pears set one or more of each kind of the different va- 

 rieties, and notice the result, discuss the subject freely in regard to 

 soils, varieties, locations, &c., and repoi^ tlie same to the meetings of 

 the Club, and also to the County Societies. This would, in a few years, 

 enable parties to make better selection of fruit, and much uncertainty 

 that now exists would be avoided ; and in this way, too, it would be 

 ascertained, to some extent, at lea?t, the kinds best adapted to partic- 

 ular soils and localities. 



PLOWING AND CnOPPIXG. 



To succeed in growing Pears, deep and thorough plowing is of vital 

 importance. Two years before transplanting, the field should be plow- 

 ed at least an inch deeper tiian at any former plowing, and the subsoil 

 plow should follow in the same furrow, as deep as circumstances will 

 permit, and the field supplied with a liberal dressing of barn manure, 

 and cultivated with some hoed crop. The succeeding year the field 

 should again be plowed as befure, that is, one inch deeper, and sub- 

 soiled as' deep as practicable. By this operation, we deepen the soil 

 some two inches; the field again being dressed with a supply of good 

 yard manure thoroughly incorporated in the soil. This mode of plow- 

 in"- is exDen^ive, we are aware, but labor is saved in the^cnd, as it su- 

 persedes the necessity of digging liolos for the trees, at the expense of 

 about $00 per acie. 



From our own personal observation, we are satisfied that with noth- 

 ing short of de-^p plowing and a thorough pulverization of the soils, 

 will the planter meet witli success. The old adage is, '• work once 



