ORCHARD NOTES. 59 



The fact of the financial gain to be derived from rational 

 .•spraying is no longer in doubt. Therefore, experiments by the 

 Station along this line are unnecessary. A circular of informa- 

 tion, " How to Fight Apple Enemies," will be sent to anyone 

 interested in the matter, however. 



DWARF pears. 



Owing to the natural conditions in northern New England, 

 little attention has been given to the growing of dwarf fruits. 

 'Considerable interest is evinced in the subject, however, and 

 inquiries concerning the merits of the dwarfs are frequently 

 received. 



The experiment station of a neighboring state is making a 

 •somewhat extended study of dwarf fruits, including apples, 

 pears, and others, and results of these trials are awaited by the 

 fruit growers of all New England. 



For purposes of demonstration and study a small orchard of 

 dwarf pears was planted at the Station in 1903. This orchard, 

 •consisting of 100 trees, is not yet in bearing; though some of 

 the trees blossomed in 1906. The following varieties are 

 included in the orchard, 5 to 10 trees of each being planted: 

 Koonce, Angouleme, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Manning Eliza- 

 beth, Howell, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Anjou, Lincoln, Mount 

 Vernon. Besides these, 2 trees each of Fame, King Karl, and 

 Triumph, have been received for trial. Most of the trees are 

 making a vigorous growth, and give every indication of making 

 .a valuable addition to the Station's collection of fruits. 



While for most commercial purposes the standard pears are 

 usually preferred to the dwarfs, the latter are often desirable 

 for amateur uses, or in special locations where but a small 

 amount of land is available. Among the advantages of the 

 dwarfs are: Small size, and consequent large number of trees 

 that may be grown upon a given area; habit of early bearing; 

 adaptation to unfavorable soil conditions ; ease of caring for 

 the trees and of harvesting the crop. One of the best dwarf 

 pear orchards in the country is more than 50 years old, and the 

 trees have been so managed that all of the fruit may still be 

 harvested from a step ladder. The trees may be planted 8 feet 

 apart each way, cutting out alternate rows in each direction as 

 they begin to crowd. 



