March, 1910 



THE GARDEN M A G A Z I N E 



79 



Beurre Clairgeau a very large, highly colored pear 

 to be grown as a standard. October to November 



essarily follow that any nurseryman can 

 supply him with young healthy trees of that 

 same sort. 



More than fourteen hundred varieties 

 are described in pomological works, and 

 every year this quantity receives a liberal 

 addition; still, the catalogues of the leading 

 nurserymen seldom contain more than forty 

 to fifty sorts. These are usually selected 

 as combining vigor of growth, profusion of 

 fruit bearing, good quality and adaptation to 

 a large variety of soils and situations. 



The commercial fruit grower restricts 

 his selection to the really profitable sorts 

 which is a lesser number than the average 

 home fruit garden requires in order to supply 

 the needs for family use — he selects sorts 

 that combine vigor of the tree, and attractive 

 color, large size, etc., but above all, long 

 carrying capacity. Very few of the large 

 commercial pear orchards contain more 

 than a dozen varieties, and some even less. 

 What this grower looks to is the profitable 

 market returns; whereas the amateur grower 

 requires a longer list to supply the house- 

 hold with fruits for both dessert and cooking 

 or canning purposes. 



The great difficulty confronting the average 

 planter is in selecting varieties adapted to 

 his particular soil. Fortunately, there are a 

 few well known sorts which give excellent 

 results in most sections of the country and 

 on a great variety of soils; and the planting 

 of these few limited sorts will seldom 

 disappoint. 



Some popular sorts, like Vicar of Wink- 

 field are losing ground, because the quality 

 of its fruit is so variable. In California, 

 where the soil contains more or less alkali, 

 it varies in quality accordingly, but where 

 the soil is suitable it is a very good late pear, 

 a profuse bearer, and keeps in perfect con- 

 dition for a long time. In the upper sections 

 of Georgia and Tennessee, where the soil 

 is of a clayey texture and contains more or 

 les6 lime, it is of excellent quality, whereas 



in Middle Georgia, if planted in lighter soils, 

 it is often so astringent as to be useless as a 

 table fruit. 



Bartlett is undoubtedly the most popular 

 pear grown on this continent, yet it varies 

 greatly when grown in different localities. 

 It increases in quality and attractive color 

 as it is grown on the Pacific Slope and in the 

 Northern States, while if grown in the 

 Middle South it loses in that peculiar musky 

 aroma which is inherent to it in the first 

 named sections, but frequently is increased 

 in size. Another instance is that superla- 

 tively exquisite little pear, the Seckel, the 

 standard of excellence of all American pears. 

 It somewhat loses its exquisite flavor when 

 grown South, but attains to double the size. 



The matter of stocks is too little con- 

 sidered. Where space is restricted and tall 

 growing and far spreading trees could not 

 find sufficient space for full development, it 

 is imperative that trees of low or bushy 

 growth be grown. In this case trees budded 

 upon the quince stock will come into place. 



Seckel, the standard of quality in American pears. 

 Small, but prolific. Best in the North 



Unfortunately only a limited number of our 

 best sorts are adapted to the quince stock; 

 many like the Bartlett and Seckel are only 

 occasionally successful, whereas the Du- 

 chesse d'Angouleme, the largest of our very 

 good sorts yields abundantly, and its quality 

 is improved if grown upon the quince. For 

 commercial pear orchards trees grafted 

 upon seedling pear stocks are preferred. 



In the following list of "best varieties" 

 the different purposes for which they are 

 best adapted have been indicated and the 

 object has been to give the amateur some 

 real facts, so that in selecting a dozen 

 varieties (which should be sufficient for a 

 small garden) he can include the greatest 

 range of quality and season consistent with 

 trees of healthy and vigorous growth. 



TREES ON QUINCE STOCK 



Wilder: In this comparatively new 

 variety of American origin we have a beauti- 

 ful early pear, ripening early in August; 

 Of medium size, pyriform in shape, with a 



smooth surface, skin pale yellow with russet 

 red; flesh melting, juicy and well flavored. 

 One of our most attractive early good pears, 

 does not rot readily at the core, as is the 

 fault with so many of our older early ripening 

 pears. The tree is very productive, but apt 

 to overbear on quince stock, unless part of 

 the fruit is thinned soon after the blossoms 

 fall. It is equally an early bearer upon 

 standard stock. 



Margaret: Follows the above in season 

 of maturity, or later in August. Size 

 medium, oblong, greenish yellow, over- 

 spread with deep dull russety red. Flesh 

 melting, of delicious quality and by many 

 pear cultivators considered the best of its 

 season. The tree grows in a compact form. 



Clapp Favorite: Its great merit is that 

 it ripens slowly if gathered a week or ten 

 days before it would naturally mature upon 

 the tree, and, if kept in a cool room in the 

 house, it remains in good condition for the 

 table for a long time. It is very productive, 

 and matures during August. A very large 

 oblong pear with yellow skin covered with 

 russet red on the sunny side, flesh juicy, 

 melting and of excellent quality. 



Howell: This nearly follows the above 

 in its ripening and if treated similarly can 

 be carried for a long time. In some soils it 

 is apt to be somewhat gritty at the core, but 

 this is a slight defect which is offset by its 

 rich flavor. The fruit is large, roundish, 

 sometimes pyriform, bright yellow, with a 

 pale red cheek; flesh melting, juicy and well 

 flavored. Tree is a stout grower and bears 

 well. 



Duchesse d'Angouleme: The largest 

 of our good pears ripening during late 

 September, and lasting several weeks if 

 kept in a cool room. Average weight twelve 

 to fifteen ounces, but specimens weighing 

 two pounds and upwards are sometimes 

 produced. Its color is greenish yellow. 



Kiefler is the most resistant to scale, 

 quality in the South 



Of excellent 



