S62 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



may sometimes be seen while the health of the tree in 

 affected, only so as to stop growth. Upon cutting into the 

 spots the bark is dark and discolored ; with two punctures 

 generally about one eighth of an inch apart (occasionally 

 there is but one). At first they do not reach the wood, 

 hut only to the cellular integument. If the affected part 

 is removed with a knife, the wound immediately heals, 

 and the health of the tree is restored. Cut out the dis- 

 eased hark, if it extends nearly around the trunk. Trees 

 with soft, thick bark are more liable to be affected. When 

 the leaves turn black, the branch will have to be cut off 

 below the affected part. It is not certain whether this 

 variety of the disease is caused by an insect, or a fungus. 

 This form of blight I have never seen. 



In all cases of blight, whether it is caused by insects, or 

 disease of the circulation when the twigs begin to die, the 

 remedy is the same, and must be promptly applied, or the 

 tree is lost. Cut off the infected part at once, a foot below 

 where it appears shrivelled, and burn it. If it spreads 

 further, cut more deeply. Examine daily ; cut promptly 

 and unsparing ; you may as well kill the tree yourself, as 

 have it destroyed by blight, and the disease spreading from 

 tree to tree. The best method of prevention is not to feed 

 the pear too highly with nitrogenous manure, but rather 

 with leaf mould or swamp muck, composted with the 

 mineral constituents found by analysis necessary for the 

 pear. 



Varieties. — A greater number of varieties of the pear 

 are in cultivation than of any other fruit. Of those which 

 have fruited here, the following are the most desirable. 

 The varieties do not always observe with us the order of 

 succession laid down in the books. 



The earliest pear is AmireJoannet, which ripens in May ; 

 but it is small and of rather indifferent quality, though it 



