THE PEAR. 



The pear succeeds all over the best apple districts of Ontario, but few g^ood 

 hardy varieties have yet been found, hence the commerical culture of the pear 

 does not extend as far north as the apple. The principal pear orchards are found 

 in southern Ontario. There are many good orchards, however, along Lake On- 

 tario 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 

 commercial 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 pro- 

 perly 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 transplant, 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 easier 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 are 

 almost always grown without a central leader in Ontario, 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 suceeding 

 particularly well on this 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 to not 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 desirable 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 bt the Board or Control. 



Commercial: Giffard, Clapp, Bartlett, Boussock, Flemish (hardy, subject to .spot), 

 Howell, Louise, Duchess, Bosc, Clairgeau, Anjou, Kieffer. 



Domestic: Summer Doyenne, GifiFard, Bartlett, Flemish (for the north), Sheldon, 

 Scckel, Bosc, Anjou, Lawrence. Josephine, Winter Nelis, 



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