98 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 
these the young trees will start as well without as with fertilizers. 
Commercial fertilizers, at least, are not wanted by young trees. Stable 
manure, usually priceless in orchard regions, often puts an atmosphere in 
an orchard not to be had by any other means, chiefly, probably, because 
it helps to put the land in good tilth rather than because of the plant food 
supplied. 
Present practices in the use of fertilizers for mature pear-trees are very 
diverse. Until experiments in fertilizing pears are carefully carried out, the 
pear-grower may well follow the practices of apple-growers, since a con- 
siderable number of long-time experiments have thrown light on the 
fertilizer requirements of apples in the several great fruit regions of the 
country. The pear, however, requires a richer soil than the apple; but, 
on the other hand, it is pretty well agreed that the blight bacterium finds 
readier entrance and a better medium in which to grow in the soft wood 
of a luxuriant growth than in the more compact wood of slow growths. 
Whatever fertilizer is used should be applied early to promote early growth 
and so permit thorough ripening of wood well in advance of severe cold. 
Many growers maintain that blight is less virulent in orchards laid down 
to grass. It is doubtful if this is true and if true the produce is so scant 
and the pears so small that an orchard grown in grass is about as often a 
liability as an asset. When the pear is set in grass, however, nitrate of 
soda applied very early in the season in liberal amounts is a necessary 
adjunct to the grass-mulch. In any pear orchard, when the foliage is 
off color, small, sparse, or hangs limp, nitrate of soda is a sovereign 
rejuvenator. 
This discussion may be closed with advice as to how one may know 
when his trees need fertilizers. If the trees are vigorous, bearing well, the 
fruits of proper size, the foliage a luxuriant green, the growth plump, the 
buds turgid, he may well assume that his trees need no additional plant-food. 
If the trees are not in the condition of well-being indicated, one ought to 
be well assured that drainage, tillage, and health are as they should be 
before applying expensive and uncertain fertilizers. Nothing is more 
satisfactory than making sure that one is not putting chemicals in the 
ground for nothing in the use of fertilizers. A simple experiment to obtain 
positive evidence as to whether a pear-orchard needs fertilizers is easily 
carried on and gives assurance where before there was doubt. 
The following is an example of such an experiment: (1) Acid phosphate 
to give about 50 pounds of phosphoric acid to the acre applied to one plat; 
