276 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PEARS ON APPLE STOCKS. 



Mr. Cole : You say, in your Fruit Book, that the 

 Seckel pear does better ou the apple than other kinds. 

 Every body says that it is harder to grow on its own 

 roots, particuhirly from the ground, than most other 

 varieties ; but how much better it will do on apple 

 roots, or whether it will succeed sufficiently well to 

 justify nurserymen in budding it on the apple, is a 

 question which I should like to have answered by 

 you, or some one who has fairly tried the experiment. 

 If it will produce more, or even as much fruit, and 

 of larger size, and at the same time grow enough 

 fester to overbalance any defect to which the tree or 

 quality of the fruit may be subjected, then it may 

 perhaps bo grown on the apple to advantage. 



The great and principal objection to the Seckel 

 pear is small size and slow growth with common 

 culture. Now, if this objection can be removed by 

 being grown on the apple, without essentially injur- 

 ing the quality of the fruit, or health of the tree, I 

 think it ought to be known by all who are engaged 

 in the culture of fruit; but if not, I hope none will 

 be disappointed in attempting thus to cultivate the 

 Seckel pear. But I leave the subject with you, 

 wishing you to take such notice of the above as you 

 may think proper. 



Yours respectfully, 



E. F. KICHARDSON. 



Medway, July 23, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. — Generally the Seckel pear 

 on the apple stock yields fruit considerably larger 

 than its usual size, but the quality is inferior. We 

 do not think that this, or any other variety of 

 pear, can be cultivated on the apple, as a matter of 

 utility, but only for curiosity, or as a matter of ex- 

 periment in illustrating the principles of botanical 

 science. One important fact learned from such ex- 

 periments is, that the stock affects the fruit of the 

 scion. We have a scion of the Vicar of Winkfield 

 pear that has been growing live or six years on an 

 apple-tree. The fruit is always hard, and never 

 ripens. Whether this is owing to the stock, or other 

 cause, we cannot tell. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PEAR-TREE BLIGHT. 



Friend Cole : Although of limited experience 

 and slight observation, as regards the propagation 

 of fruit trees, and the cultivation and raising of fruit, 

 and i)articularly the pear, yet I offer a word respect- 

 ing the latter. 



I have seen, read, and heard something about the 

 blight iu the pear-tree ; but whether the cause there- 

 of has been traced out and sottlod, I know not. 



There may be a series of concurrent causes, the 

 resultant of which is the destruction of the tree. 



I lately cut a twig ilorn a young pear-tree, the 

 leaves of which were dark and dead ; and on examin- 

 ing it closely, I found, among the dead and dyino- 

 leaves, a swarm of small worms invested in a very 

 attenuated web. It was the extreme end of a limb, 

 and but a few leaves on it ; yet it contained hundreds 

 of the little destroying insects or worms — the head 

 black, the body regular, semi-transparent, and of a 

 yellow color, being about three sixteenths of an 

 inch in length, and of squirming activity, in the rain. 

 They destroy the fine green part of the leaf, which 

 leaves it lifeless. 



Whether che operations of the minute grub have 



any thing to do towards producing blight or disease, 

 I know not, any further than that the destruction 

 in the above instance was complete as far as it went. 

 It is the first thing of the kind that has come under 

 my observation. Although of small account, and 

 perhaps a solitary instance, yet sad results may be, 

 and often are, attributable to minute and apparently 

 insignificant agents. J. 



Editorial Remarks — In a great many cases, it 

 is difficult to determine whether insects are a cause 

 or consequence of disease. There are various kinds 

 of insects that destroy the foliage of pear and 

 other fruit trees. But the blight, as generally 

 found in pear-trees is not caused by insects, in 

 our opinion, but by great heat. Like the potato 

 rot, it is too sudden and extensive to be the work 

 of insects, and they cannot be discovered in their 

 operations. 



We have had seedling pears of the first year's 

 growth blighted early in the season, on hot, dry 

 soil ; while near by, in a moist, cool soil, they were 

 vigorous. The seed was the sanie, and the manur- 

 ing and cultivating of the two lots were similar. 



High culture of the pear-tree, producing a rapid 

 growth, predisposes it to blight ; hence the preva- 

 lence of this disease in the fertile regions of the 

 west, and its more common occurrence in those 

 varieties that are great growers. 



i 



For the Neio England Farmer. 

 COTTAGES. 



Mr. Editor : I was pleased to notice, in the 

 number of June 23, a representation of a cottage. 

 The economy and convenience of buildings are sub- 

 jects well deserving a place in your valuable paper, 

 and I therefore bespeak for them further notice from 

 you and your correspondents. 



A mistake made in the erection of buildings is one 

 that cannot be reisaired without loss. Order, and 

 neatness also, tend much to make home pleasant, and 

 have an improving effect upon the whole nature of 

 man. Now, it cannot be doubted but what, if we 

 consider the plan of the building only, not counting 

 closeness of trade, that some men will obtain as much 

 for eight hundred dollars as another will for one 

 thousand dollars. If these things be so, then any 

 course Avhich will give the best plans to those who 

 may wish to build, is an object worth obtaining. 



As you placed the cottage referred to in a farmer's 

 paper, I infer that you meant it for a farmer's cottage ; 

 but I think a different plan in some particulars would 

 suit my ideas a little better. I would not, however, 

 find fault, for I was pleased that you gave it ; but I 

 would suggest that a sleeping apartment upon the 

 fioor of the house is a great comfort and convenience. 

 And does not convenience also demand that the pan- 

 try should join the kitchen ? An approximat ^ esti- 

 mate of the cost would be interesting, if st;ue:l. I will 

 write no more for the present, but remain yoars for 

 ECONOMY AND NEATNESS. 



Aug. 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. — In giving the design for a 

 cottage, referred to by our correspondent, our object 

 was to give a general plan and style of building, 

 which might be modified to suit the taste of the 

 owner. In order to have a sleeping room below, an 

 addition might be made, in the rear of the main 

 building, for a kitchen communicating directly with 



