THE PEAR. 



The pear succeeds over all the best apple districts of Ontario, but few good hardy 

 varieties have yet been found, hence the commercial culture of the pear does not ex- 

 tend as far north as the apple. The principal pear orchards are found in southern 

 Ontario. There are many good orchards, however, along Lake Ontario as far east as 

 the Bay of Quinte and north to the Georgian Bay. 



In eastern Ontario, only a few kinds succeed, and these are not planted on a com- 

 mercial scale. These hardy varieties are grown to a limited extent for home use as 

 far north as latitude 45 degrees and some of the Russian pears, though inferior in 

 quality and very subject to blight, may be grown still further north. 



The pear stands distant shipment well, if picked at the right time, and properly 

 packed and handled in transit, and hence larger quantities are being sent to distant 

 markets every year, and, as a rule, good prices are obtained for the fruit. 



The general directions for the preparation of the land, soil and planting, as given 

 for the apple, apply to the pear, with but slight alterations. While pears succeed in the 

 same kind of soils as the apple, clay loams, if well drained, suit them best. Pear 

 trees two years old are better than those three years old, as they are easier to trans- 

 plant, since pear trees have not so good a root system as the apple. Standard trees 

 should be set at least twenty feet apart each way. Pear trees are shaped and pruned 

 much like the apple, although trees with a central leader are more easily obtained and are 

 preferred. They may be headed nearer the ground than the apple, as they are of more 

 upright habit. Many pears are now being grown on dwarf or quince stock. These 

 have the advantage of being earlier than standard trees, and may be planted closer 

 together, fourteen feet apart being a good distance. They do not live as long as 

 standard trees. The dwarf trees in Ontario are almost always grown without a central 

 leader, and branching near the ground. They require more careful pruning than 

 standards. The fruit of some varieties is improved by growing on dwarf stocks, 

 among those succeeding particularly well on ithis stock being Duchess, Louise, Diel, 

 and Easter Beurre. 



Pear trees are very much subject to blight, which, as yet, cannot be controlled 

 by any practical means. It has been observed, however, that trees usually blight most 

 when making strong, succulent growth, hence it is best not to encourage a strong 

 growth. Some varieties are more subject to blight than others, and when planting, 

 this should be taken into consideration. In planting a pear orchard, it is also desir- 

 able to mix the varieties, avoiding large blocks of any one kind, as better crops will 

 thus be obtained, some varieties being almost sterile, when planted by themselves. 



The picking of pears requires good judgment. If they are picked too early, the 

 fruit will not get its best flavor, but, if picked too ripe, it will spoil before reaching 

 the market. Pears, unlike most fruits, ripen well and develop a good flavor when 

 picked while still green and hard, but, to obtain this flavor, the fruit should have 

 reached its full size. 



VARIETIES RECOMMENDED. 

 GENERAL LIST, APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL. 



Giffard, Clapp, Bartlett, Boussock, Flemish (hardy, subject to spot), Howell, Louise, 

 Duchess, Bosc, Clairgeau, Anjou, Kieffer. 



DISTRICT LISTS. 

 NIAGARA DISTRICT. 



(Including the Niagara Peninsula from the Niagara River to Hamilton and north to 



the escarpment.) 

 1143] 



