132 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pear orchard than from any other source. We shall keep on trying, 

 and in the end we hope to grow them ; when we do we shall have the 

 start of you fellows who keep on crying, " you can't raise pears in 

 Nebraska. " 



Masters — I was in Stephens' place twenty-five years ago, but I 

 have got over thinking that way now. 



President — Did not apple growing look as unfavorable then as 

 pear growing does now ? 



Masters — No ; the outlook for apples was much better then than 

 it is for pears now. 



Carpenter — I know of a pear tree in Jefferson county that has 

 borne over $50 worth of pears since it was planted.) 



Samuel Barnard — Rich men can plant pear trees, and it is all 

 right, but for the man who expects to make his living by raising 

 fruit, I think it is folly to recommend pear growing. There are too 

 many trees planted to the amount of fruit produced. I have planted 

 lots of pear trees and have only a few now. No one man has ever 

 made a thorough success of growing this fruit ; not one in twenty-five 

 ever succeed. 



Day — Pears are a little like the Louisiana state lottery : we may 

 draw a prize once in a while, but the chances are that we will not. 

 We invest $50 and get $1 in return. 



Carpenter — I do not recommend them, but I think we should 

 experiment. I do not think all the Russian varieties are good ; some 

 of them are subject to leaf blight. 



Stephens — The Nebraska horticulturists work against the pear, 

 but I expect to make some money out of mine. The American peo- 

 ple try to do the impossible, and if at first they don't succeed they 

 "try, try again." I have spent over $10,000 in experimenting with 

 fruits, and have learned a dear but good lesson. It is no good to ad- 

 vise people ; they won't pay any attention to it any way. 



Masters — I have a receipt for success, and it will never fail : 

 " Set two trees for every one that dies." 



President — I believe it is the sentiment of the Society to let the 

 people plant pear trees, but not to encourage them in it. 



