128 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cause the nature of the pear, and its conditions, were not fully under- 

 stood, and partly through attempting to grow varieties for which our 

 climate was not adapted. I think along this line we shall find our 

 success easier if we will give more attenton to the growing of some 

 special varieties, which, in their nature and habits, are better adapted 

 to our climatic conditions. 



So far, I have had some success, and considerable failure, in the 

 growing of pears. Out of all this I am encouraged to believe that cer- 

 tain varieties, with certain methods of treatment, with a proper selec- 

 tion of soil, can be made profitable, commercially; and with others,, 

 failure will be more frequent than success. 



In planting my first orchard I erred in making my soil too rich, 

 and pushed the trees too rapidly. Evidently more trees suffer from 

 the tendency to grow too fast and too late in the fall, and to be unripe 

 when winter sets in on immature wood, than from all other causes. 

 Hence we should select soil not too rich, and give such cultivation and 

 care as will ripen the wood early. Be very particular to have the 

 wood thoroughly ripe when winter sets in, and get only a fair annual 

 growth. With these conditions met, and with a proper selection of 

 varieties, there seems to be a fair prospect of commercial success in 

 the growing of pears. 



I have 1,000 pear trees in commercial orchard and will plant about 

 500 more the coming spring. Our plan is to keep the ground cool 

 and moist with heavy mulching of coal ashes. We also scatter salt 

 about the trees ; both applications with a view to keeping up an equa- 

 ble degree of moisture. 



Among the leading varieties of pears may be mentioned, Keifer, 

 Sheldon, B. de Anjou, Seckel, Tyson, and Flemish Beauty. 



The Flemish Beauty does fairly well, but has shown, this past sea- 

 son, some tendency to blight. We planted of this variety about 200 

 trees in the orchard; and where we have planted this variety for 

 other parties we have found it bearing very fairly; they are choice 

 pears, of good size, and many of the trees loaded with all they can 

 carry. We hear of this pear from many directions as being one of our 

 most promising and fairly reliable varieties. 



We regard the Seckel and the Tyson as still less likely to blight. 

 The fruit is not so large and of course will not yield as many bushels 

 to the tree. We have planted freely of both. 



