THE PEARS OF NEW YORK gI 
The blooming period is that of full bloom. The data were taken from 
trees grown under normal conditions as to pruning, distance apart, and as 
to all other factors which might influence the blooming period. There is 
a variation of several days between the time of full bloom of the different 
varieties of pears. These differences can be utilized in selecting sorts to 
avoid injury from frost. In using blooming-time data it must be kept 
constantly in mind that varieties of fruits may not bloom in the same 
relative time. In very warm or very cold springs the usual relations of 
blooming-time may be upset. 
Rainfall, moisture, and cloudiness are most important in growing pears. 
England, Belgium, and northern France, regions where the pear finds the 
climate most congenial, have much cool, moist, cloudy weather with much 
less variation in temperature than is the case in the United States. The 
climate of New York and the states bordered by the Great Lakes where 
most of the pears of eastern America are grown, is cooler, moister, and 
cloudiness is more prevalent than in other eastern states. The summer 
climate of the Pacific slope is not moist but is equable and, in the best 
pear orchards, moisture is supplied abundantly by irrigation. From these 
considerations we may assume that the pear requires more moisture than 
most other fruits. The pear in New York more often suffers from too little 
than from too much rain. The exception is when pears are in bloom, at 
which time the crop is sometimes lost or badly injured by cold, wet 
weather. Warm, moist weather is favorable to both fire-blight and the 
scab fungus, the two most dreaded diseases of the pear. 
Several other weather problems should be studied before selecting a 
region as a site for a pear-orchard. The direction, force, and frequency 
of prevailing winds both in winter and summer are important considerations. 
Unfavorable winds in winter favor winter-killing; in blooming time prevent 
the proper setting of fruit; and at ripening time make many windfalls. 
Hail storms are more frequent in some parts of New York than in others 
and may be a deterrent in selecting a site. Lastly, drouths, so fatal to 
the pear, are more common in some parts of the State than in others. 
LOCATIONS AND SOILS FOR PEARS 
Pears thrive in a great diversity of soils, provided, almost always, that 
there is depth for proper root-run. A few varieties may be grown in 
comparatively shallow soils, but most pears are deep-rooted. The common 
pear is rather averse to sand, gravels, and light soils in general, and does 
