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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



GATHERING AND RIPENING OF PEARS 



Many pear growers make the common mistake of allowing 

 the fruit to hang too long on the tree, instead of gathering and 

 ripening in a cool, dark place. Pears should be picked at the first 

 indication of ripeness, the first sign being a tendency of the stem 

 to part from the spur when the pear is gently raised up. This 

 test applies especially to the Bartlett. Picking at this stage and 

 laying away in the dark ripens up the Bartlett well. When picked 

 at this stage and sent overland by slow freight, they ripen en route 

 and the boxes open well on the Eastern markets. There are a few 

 varieties which shrivel if ripened under cover, but the rule is a good 

 one, and the grower will soon note the exceptions. Many desirable 

 varieties have, no doubt, been pronounced poor and insipid because 

 allowed to ripen on the tree. 



To ripen well, pears should be packed in tight boxes or inclosed 

 in drawers. They do not do as well as apples on shelves open 

 to circulation of air. As already stated, the oily-skinned apple 

 endures exposure and maintains a smooth, ruddy cheek and sound 

 heart in spite of wind, rain, and rough weather. The pear under 

 similar conditions decays rapidly. 



POLLINATION OF PEARS 



As very few varieties of pears are largely grown in California 

 and as the Bartlett generally bears well when grown in large acre- 

 ages by itself, the eastern claim that the Bartlett is self-sterile 

 does not seem to be justified in California experience. Recent 

 observations indicate that even at the east the Bartlett is self- 

 fertile when conditions are favorable to setting of the fruit and 

 self-sterile when they are otherwise. As conditions are usually 

 favorable in California this may be the reason why its self-fertility 

 is more conspicuous here than at the east. It has been individ- 

 ually noted, however, that the White Doyenne is a good fertilizer 

 for the Bartlett. The Winter Nelis is the one of the pears com- 

 mercially worth growing which is most apt to be fruitless, but 

 thus far association with other varieties has not been demon- 

 strated to be a full remedy. For the assistance of those who desire 

 to test pear pollination the following statement is made of the 

 relative dates of bloom of a large number of varieties, based upon 

 records kept in Tulare County : 



VARIETY. First bloom. Full bloom. 



Barry March 10 March 20 



Bartlett March 14 March 24 



Belle Lucrative March 14 March 26 



Beurrg Clairgeau March 11 March 22 



Beurre d'Amanlis March 10 March 20 



BeurrS d'Anjou March 16 March 24 



