244 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



Mat, 1914 



38 degrees, and as far north as they stand 

 the winters, which usually is into New York, 

 Vermont or New Brunswick. South of 

 latitude 38 degrees these varieties are not 

 satisfactory, mainly because they blight 

 excessively. This blighting can be con- 

 trolled to a certain extent in the South by 

 proper cultural methods and pruning, but it 

 makes the growing of all European pears an 

 up-hill job, and you had better not attempt 

 to grow them in your Southern garden. 

 Instead, plant some of the Chinese sand 

 pear sorts, of which the best varieties, in 

 order of merit, are Kieffer, Garber, LeConte, 

 Golden Russet, and Mikado. Pears of 

 these varieties, when grown in the North, 

 are coarse fleshed and rather insipid as to 

 flavor; when grown in the South they are 

 better in both meat and flavor. They are 

 the kinds to plant from Central Virginia to 

 Florida. All of them produce fruit that is 

 medium to large, and well suited to canning. 

 Standard trees are the best type to plant. 



Practically there need be no distinction 

 among these varieties in regard to soil and 

 elevation. The winter sorts generally do 

 better than the summer ones on mountain 

 land, though any hardy variety will suc- 

 ceed in elevated seci'.ons. The dates of 

 ripening, or ripening months, given in the 

 table are for Long Island. At higher eleva- 

 tions or farther north the varieties will tend 

 to ripen later, while farther south they will 

 ripen earlier. 



The incidental points to consider, when 

 planting pear trees, are that you always 

 must cultivate dwarf trees just about as 

 you must cultivate peaches. They should 

 not be fertilized much. Standard pear 

 trees, on the other hand, never should be 

 cultivated. If you do cultivate them, or 

 fertilize them much, they will blight badly, 

 even in the North. All pear trees should be 

 sprayed regularly. If your soil is not well 

 drained naturally, put in tiles or thoroughly 

 and deeply work the subsoil down to a loose 

 layer of earth. 



Pears apparently thrive best in heavy soil 



Dwarf trees are better adapted to small gardens than 

 standards. They bear sooner and more plentifully 



that has been well loosened and fined, with 

 plenty of organic matter and summer mois- 

 ture. If your ground is not good now, make 

 it over by adding the required clay or sand 

 or organic matter and whatever else it needs. 

 This would be impracticable in an orchard, 

 but is profitable in a garden. If frosts 

 bother the fruit garden, plant evergreen 

 windbreaks along two or more sides of it, 

 first carefully studying the prevailing air 

 currents and the probable effects of the 

 windbreak when it is matured. 



Gather the fruit when it will come loose 

 from the twigs as you lift it up gently. Then 

 lay it away in a dark room for a week or a 

 month, to give it opportunity of reaching 

 that well ripened texture and flavor so often 

 spoken of as tender and melting, elegant 

 and exquisite, rich and juicy, luscious and 

 delightful and delicious! 



Plants in the Greenhouses 



ALL hardwooded plants that were forced 

 during the winter or spring can now 

 be plunged outdoors. Do not delay longer 

 in putting carnations outdoors for the sum- 

 mer. But any plants that are to be kept 

 any longer must be shaded by a slat trellis 

 placed over the house; that will improve 

 both the size and color of the flower. 

 Plunge the amaryllis out of doors to ripen 

 the bulbs now; the north side of a building 

 is an excellent place. 



Pot up the chrysanthemums and repot 

 when necessary, as they will not produce 

 good flowers if allowed to become pot- 

 bound. Another batch of chrysanthemum 

 cuttings can be struck any time this month. 



Strawberries to be forced for next winter, 

 must be got ready now. Pots should be 

 plunged to receive the first runners from 

 the bed; these can be severed from the 

 plants when well rooted. 



Early May is a good time to fix up a few 

 hanging baskets. They should be left in the 

 greenhouse for several weeks after making up 

 so that the plants may become established. 



All plants being forced indoors, such as 

 gloxinias, begonias, yellow callas, etc., 

 should be fed rather freely with liquid man- 

 ure, as they will be making rapid growth. 



All the dahlia cuttings should now be 

 potted up. It is best to plant them out 

 directly out of two-inch pots as fast as each 

 batch becomes thoroughly rooted. 



Greenhouses where ferns and other foliage 

 plants are being grown should be slightly 

 shaded and the temperature can be kept 

 down by a frequent damping down of the 

 floors. The shade should not be intense; 

 a slat trellis is the best or whitewash 

 sprayed on the glass will do. 



Clean out the rose house and prepare for 

 the young stock. Paint the benches with 

 hot lime. If you intend holding over your 

 old stock start now to harden the wood 

 by gradually reducing the water and in- 

 creasing the ventilation. 









VARIETIES OF PEARS FOR HOME 



GARDENS NORTH OF LATITUDE 38 







WHEN 







DWARF OR 



PERIOD WILL 













RIPE 



VARIETY 



SECTION 



STANDARD 



KEEP 



SIZE 



FLAVOR 



TEXTURE 



USE BEST 



REMARKS 





C Elizabeth 



Vt.-Md. 



Dwf.-Std. 



4 weeks 



Medium 



Sweet 



Medium 



All 



Slow to bear 



AUG. 1- 



J Snyder 



Mass.-Md. 



Standard 



4 weeks 



Large 



Brisk 



Medium 



All 



Reliable 



SEP. 10 



\ Bloodgood 



N. Y.-Va. 



Both 



3 weeks 



Medium 



Richest 



Fine 



Raw 



For lowland 





J Clapp 



N.B.-Pa. 



Dwf.-Std. 



4 weeks 



Large 



Winey 



Fine 



Raw 



For North 





^Bartlett 



N.B.-Va. 



Std.-Dwf. 



5 weeks 



Large 



Winey 



Fine 



All 



Sue. everywhere 





/Tyson 



N.Y.-W.Va. 



Both 



4 weeks 



Small 



Sweet 



Fine 



All 



Good at 5oo-8oof t. 





I Doyenne 



N.Y.-W.Va. 



Standard 



8 weeks 



Medium 



High 



Fine 



Raw 



For West 





\ Seckel 



N.B.-Md. 



Both 



6 weeks 



Small 



Spicy honey 



Finest 



Raw 



Finest quality 



SEP. 1- 



J Worden Seckel 



Vt.-Md. 



Both 



8 weeks 



Medium 



Rich, spicy 



Fine 



Raw 



Finest quality 



OCT. 10 



\ Lincoln 



N.B.-Md. 



Both 



6 weeks 



Large 



Rich 



Medium 



All 



Very hardy 





) Wilder Early 



N.B.-N.Y. 



Standard 



6 weeks 



Small 



Sweet 



Medium 



All 



For North only 





/ Flemish Beauty 



N.B.-Pa. 



Both 



8 weeks 



Large 



Musky 



Fine 



Raw 



Very hardy 





1 Fame 



N.B.-Md. 



Std.-Dwf. 



6 weeks 



Medium 



Sweet Spicy 



Medium 



Raw 



High quality 





VHowell 



Vt.-Md. 



Dwarf 



6 weeks 



Large 



Fair 



Medium 



All 



Thrifty 





(Bosc 



N.Y.-Md. 



Dwarf 



8 weeks 



Large 



Rich 



Medium 



All 



Excellent dwarf 





\ AXGOULEME 



Mass.-Pa. 



Dwarf only 



8 weeks 



Large 



Fair 



Medium 



All 



Thrifty 



OCTO- 



J Vermont Beauty 



N.B.-Md. 



Both 



8 weeks 



Medium 



Spicy 



Fine 



Raw 



Very hardy 



BER 



\ Sheldon 



N.Y.-Pa. 



Standard 



6 weeks 



Medium 



Sweet 



Coarse 



Can 



For cooking 





I COMICE 



N.Y.-Md. 



Both 



8 weeks 



Large 



Rich 



Fine 



Raw 



Good West 





(JLouise 



Vt.-Pa. 



Dwarf only 



10 weeks 



Large 



Sub-acid 



Very fine 



Raw 



Fine dwarf 



OCT.- 



j Danas Hovey 



Vt.-Md. 



Both 



10 weeks 



Small 



Sugary 



Coarse 



Raw 



Delicious 



DEC. 



1 Anjou 



Vt.-Md. 



Dwarf only 



12 weeks 



Large 



Brisk 



Medium 



All 



Fine dwarf 



OCT.- 



j Lawrence 



N.B.-Md. 



Dwarf only 



12 weeks 



Medium 



Sweet 



Medium 



All 



Fine dwarf 



FEB. 



1 Winter NeliS 



Vt.-Md. 



Both 



12 weeks 



Medium 



Rich 



Delicious 



Raw 



Best quality 



OCT.- 

 MAR. 



[■Easter Beurre 



N.Y.-Md. 



Both 



16 weeks 



Large 



Rich 



Fine 



Raw 



Late keeper 





