THE PEAR 103 



The safest source of nitrogen supply is from occasional 

 nitrogenous cover crops. 



SUN-SCALD. See Chapter IX. 



PRINCIPAL INSECT PESTS. Borers : The true 

 pear-tree borer is something like the peach-tree borer, 

 only smaller and seldom so troublesomely numerous. 

 The round-headed and flat-headed apple-tree borers 

 also attack pear trees sometimes. See Chapter IX. 



Codling moth: Often attacks pears as well as apples. 

 Consult Chapter X for description and remedies. 



Midge : A small, grayish, long-legged fly which 

 early in spring deposits its eggs inside the pear 

 blossoms. The eggs rapidly hatch into tiny worms 

 which enter the baby fruits and feed upon them, 

 causing them to stop growing or to become misshapen. 

 During the summer these worms leave the fruit, fall 

 to the ground, enter therein, and make cocoons. 

 Remedies : Sprays seem of little account in fighting 

 this pest. The best remedy I have seen suggested, is 

 to apply about 1,000 pounds of kainit, per acre, to the 

 infested orchard ground in June. This potash salt 

 (it's a good fertilizer) is dissolved by rains, soaks into 

 the ground, and kills the larvae. 



Oyster-shell bark louse : Sometimes attacks pears as 

 well as apples. For remedies, consult Chapter VIII. 

 Pear-leaf mite or "blister": A minute spider-like 

 insect which infests leaves early in the season, causing 

 blisters or galls thereon, reddish in color at first, 

 gradually turning to a dark brown later in the summer. 

 Remedies : Spraying the leaves does little good. But, 

 as the insects hibernate on the tree bark, I think that 

 the lime-sulphur spray, applied before buds swell^. 

 would kill mites, scale lice, and fungus. 



