STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. J;|^9 



Mr. McLaughlin. Approving nearly all that has been said, I 

 think the society may safely endorse a far more extended culture 

 of the pear for familj^ and market use in Maine. I should not at 

 present want to go so far as to say that it may be as certainly de- 

 pended on here as in Massachusetts. I think there are not many 

 men who, travelling over the two States, would think it as sure a 

 crop here as there. I have raised pears which were regarded as 

 fully equal to those which can be grown in Massachusetts, and 

 other persons in this State have done the same. But taking one 

 year with another, I do not believe we can expect to raise them as 

 easily and surely as they do in Massachusetts. But we can surely 

 extend our pear culture till we grow a great many more than we 

 do now, and make them, if not equal to those grown in Massachu- 

 setts, nearly so. 



The matter of the proper distance for planting pear trees has 

 not been touched upon. I think growers in other States, and 

 some here, are beginning to set much more closely for protection 

 and for the saving of room. It is believed that they will do better 

 closely, than more scattering. Those holding this view put 

 dwarfs about twelve feet apart each way, with a tree in the center 

 of each square, and standards sixteen feet in the same way. Be- 

 fore the trees become large enough to interfere with one another, 

 something will happen to some of them. 



The question of blight has been discussed. I have been troubled 

 with no other blight thau the fire blight. By that I have lost sev- 

 eral trees. It is said that a treatment of carbolic soap is a pre- 

 ventative, but I think there is no cure after the blight touches. 



1 would like to hear the views of Mr. liersey on the question 

 put by the President. 



Mr. Hersey. I think there is a good deal in what the gentle- 

 man from Bangor (McLaughlin) has said in relation to this subject. 

 The influence of this society is to be felt throughout the State, and 

 the results we arrive at and the recommendations we make are to 

 have an influence ; and we ought to be very careful that we do not 

 lead people astray. That, generally, pear culture may be recom- 

 mended I think is clear, but it may be well to add to that some 

 qualifications, otherwise some might be misled. Under the condi- 

 tions that pears require, this list of varieties I'ecoramended by our 

 Society may be cultivated successfully in our State. I have 

 raised them myself, with one exception, more or less successfully, 

 and others have done the same. In relation to distance — a gentle- 



