PRUNING 305 



orchard during the first few years. Grain crops, as oats, 

 wheat, or rye, should never be grown except as cover 

 crops ; and after the trees come into bearing intercrop- 

 ping should not be practiced as all the moisture and food 

 of the soil is required for the best development of the 

 fruit. 



Pears. Pears thrive in the Northeastern States and 

 along the Pacific slope. They succeed best in localities 

 characterized by moderate winter seasons and rather cool, 

 moist summers. They grow well on a variety of soils, 

 but prefer a rather stiff clay loam. 



Propagation and Planting. Pears are propagated in 

 much the same manner as apples. They are usually 

 planted at two years of age, although some growers prefer 

 one-year-old trees. The land should be prepared the same 

 as for apples and the trees planted in early spring. The 

 trees are spaced from sixteen to twenty feet apart each 

 way, depending upon variety, locality, and general form 

 to be produced. Pears come into bearing earlier than 

 apples and produce paying crops in a much shorter 

 period. Although pears thrive best with thorough till- 

 age, there is much danger of serious injury from blight 

 when too vigorous a growth is produced. The most 

 careful growers fertilize sparingly and till judiciously. 



Pruning. Pears generally require more pruning than 

 apples. Most of the varieties have a tendency to pro- 

 duce all their growth in the upper central shoots and hence 

 the first few years the pruning should consist in shorten- 

 ing all of these upper shoots. Pears are very subject to 

 sun scald, and therefore the tops should be started very 

 low, usually not more than two feet from the ground, and 

 should receive annual, but moderate pruning. Heavy 



M. AND H. PLANT PROD. 2O 



