310 TRANSACTIONS OF THK 



The Chairman related his experience : This year he had not 

 plucked off a single blossom, but the trees spontaneously threw 

 off the excess. Much ought to be left to nature. 



Prof. Mapes said the depth of hole, and the supply of proper 

 chemical pabulum was all important, but the pear tree takes in 

 more water than other trees; a dry, thin mulch that keeps the 

 tree free from Summer blight is very necessary. 



J. Payne Lowe said that the beetle known to naturalists as the 

 Oreoda Lanigera sometimes does much injury to the pear tree by 

 feeding upon the leaves. During the day these insects secrete 

 themselves by drawing together some leaves, and may be seen 

 flying about during evening and morning twilight. This insect 

 finds a place among the group known as "Rutilians," in conse- 

 quence of the shining appearance of the head and thorax. 



In order to prevent in part the ravages of this insect, if the 

 trees frequented by them be shaken, they will fall to the ground 

 from which they may be taken and destroyed, and this will pre- 

 vent very materially their rapid increase. 



The Chairman expressed his belief that neither smnmer nor win- 

 ter blight will occur where the soil is deep and well supplied with 

 the proper materials that are needed. The application of the 

 mineral constituents of the pear (chiefly superphosphate of lime) 

 was essential. If nothing be used but ordinary fermenting stable 

 manure, the fruit will soon degenerate. He commended the use 

 of the improved superphosphate to cabbages, and, from his own 

 observation, to wheat, especially on Long Island, where it had 

 been said nothing but horse manure would enatlo the sandy soil 

 to yield wheat. Experiment proved that wheat there would not 

 cost $6 per bushel ! 



Dr. Waterbury asked if the superphosphate was nitrogenized 1 



In reply, the Chairman said, that from a quarter to a third of 

 Peruvian guano was used with it. 



Prof. Mapes adverted to the most extensive knowledge of the 

 Pear possessed by Mr. Birkmann of New Jersey, whose collection 

 of trees exceeded any in America as well. 



I have on one acre, 2,350 young pear trees. By spading among 

 them they become sufficiently root-pruned. 



Mr. Lowe — There is a beetle which injures the leaves of the 

 pear tree ; by smart shaking they drop off and their mischief is 

 prevented. 



Wm. R. Prince & Co., of Flusliing, Long Island, presented to 

 the Club seeds of the Sida-MoUis, a valuable fibrous plant of the 



