STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 81 



were attacked and destroyed. Carbolic acid has also been used, 

 without any perceptible difference in the result, from the lime and 

 sulphur mixture." 



This important subject to pear growers was referred to Dr. 

 Thomas Taylor, microscopist of the Department of Agriculture at 

 Washiug'tou, for investigation, and it is expected that his report 

 at the next meeting will communicate much valuable information 

 on fire blight and zymotic fungus. 



P. T. Quinn, Secretary of the New Jersey State Agricultural 

 Society, in an essay published in the Proceedings of the American 

 Pomological Society, enumerates the following as the causes of 

 the exhaustion of fruit trees : The selection of varieties unsuited 

 to the locality on account of uncongeniality of soil and climate, 

 the neglect to furnish sufficient plant food to nourish the trees 

 and the crops raised in the same ground, allowing young trees to 

 overbear and planting trees too far apart and sowing the orchard 

 down to grass without breaking up the sod for years. He says : 



" It is generally known that there are comparatively few varie- 

 ties that can with any prospect of ultimate success, be recom- 

 mended for orchard culture everywhei-e. Even different sections 

 of the same State may need different varieties. It is necessary, 

 therefore, to choose the list for each particular locality after the 

 most full deliberation and investigation, and then to be sure to 

 obtain strong and well grown trees, true to name, from responsi- 

 ble nurserymen. Never buy from a tree peddler unless you are 

 certain he is the representative of some reliable firm. * * * 

 To start with a poorly grown stock is to court disease and disap- 

 pointment at the outset. It is a most prolific cause of failure ; 

 and to have trees prove untrue to name is most discouraging as 

 well as expensive to beginners. * * * * 



" From a young orchard of apples and pears, no returns in the 

 way of fruit are expected for six or seven years, and in the mean- 

 time the ground is cropped as usual, to pay expenses, often using 

 just enough manure to bring the cultivated crop to maturity, for- 

 getting or overlooking the fact that there are two crops on the 

 same ground, each having needs, while only enough manure is 

 applied for one. By this short-sighted economy the trees are 

 pinched, their growth and vigor impaired, and in thousands of 

 instances the orchard permanently injured, leaving what fruit such 

 trees produce at the mercy of insects. * * * * 



" In pear culture, particularly, exhaustion and premature death 

 of certain varieties is hastened by neglect in furnishing the soil 

 with fertilizing material, and allowing young trees to overbear. 

 This latter practice has permanently injured more peas trees than all 

 other sources combined. * * * * A tree ought not to be 

 allowed to bear a pear, no matter how vigorous it may be, until it 



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