I 
I 
pomolugital. 
PEARS AND PEAR CULTURE i 
Essay Itcmi lli iori- the Pennsylvania Fruit 
Growers’ Society* Jan. il), 
BY E. 8ATTEBTITWAITE. 
[Continued from page 92, last No,] 
As nothing seems to be known of the 
cause of this malady, it will be very difficult 
to suggest a remedy ; and perhaps it is use¬ 
less to speculate upon it; but ns it seems to 
be a difficulty of so serious n nature, any¬ 
thing that can throw light upon it would 
seem to he interesting. And, in connection 
with this, I will mention what has always 
appeared to me to be very remarkable, and 
well worthy of the most thorough investiga¬ 
tion, I allude to the fact that pears grown 
in cities appear to be entirely exempt from 
this, as well as every other malady that 
pears growing in the country are subject to. 
There would seem to be some mysterious 
atmospheric influence in cities which is 
peculiarly favorable to the growth of pears, 
not only rendering the trees exempt from 
disease, but causing the fruit of every variety 
to be free from blemish, and of a complexion 
so brilliant and perfect as to be recognized 
with difficulty as the same fruit, when com¬ 
pared with the same variety grown only a 
few miles distant in tho country. 
In the present state of our knowledge on 
the subject, the only 
Remedy tor tkla Leaf Htialit 
seems to be in the selection of such varieties 
as appear to be least liable to it. And here 
I cannot refrain from making a suggestion 
in regard to a pear which, from ite remark¬ 
able vigor and exemption, under all circum¬ 
stances, from leaf blight, would seem to he 
well worth experimenting with. 1 allude t« 
the Chinese Sand Pear. And 1 would like 
to inquire if any one has ever tried, either 
by hybridizing with other kinds, or other¬ 
wise, to obtain from seedlings of this variety 
an edible fruit, with the very desirable prop¬ 
erties of this tree. 
Tin* Applo or Quince liorer 
has become very destructive with me of late, 
and I have lost many fine pear trees by 
them, the mischief being mostly done before 
I had made the discovery that the borer 
would attack the wood of the pear. In 
localities where this insect is troublesome, 
it will lie necessary to take the same pre¬ 
caution with the pear as with the apple or 
quince, to guard against injury from It.. 
This, however, is so easily done that no 
further mischief ought to result from this 
cause, when it once becomes known that 
the borer will attack the pear. 
Tim CrncUInK of Hie Fruit 
of some varieties, worse some seasons than 
others, is a very serious objection to the 
varieties subject to It. As no cause nor 
remedy lias ever been discovered for this, 
the only way to avoid it is to discard the 
varieties liable to Ibis objection. I might 
say here, however, that 1 have noticed that 
tho fruit of trees that are unthrifty from any 
cause appear to he the most liable to crack ; 
and this seems to be another argument in 
favor of high culture. 
I have, every year, bushels of fine pears 
destroyed by wasps, hornets and yellow 
jackets; hut these, 1 feel satisfied, from the 
experiments I have made, can be almost en¬ 
tirely destroyed, by catching them in wide- 
rnouthed bottles hung in the trees, and half 
filled with molassws and vinegar. Before 
proceeding to consider the question of varie¬ 
ties, it would, perhaps, he better to say what 
I have to say upon the 
Relative Merits ol Standard and Dwarf 
Trees. 
It will probably be recollected that I, 
years ago, before this Society, expressed my 
disbelief in the existence of dwarfs-to any 
extent worth talking about, and 1 have since 
seen no reason to change this opinion. I 
long ago discovered that, all my quince-root¬ 
ed trees soon took to themselves pear roots, 
and abandoned the quince. And, though 
there is probably a difference in soils In 
regard to this, my belief is that this will 
always be the case, sooner or later, where 
they are planted, as always recommended, 
with the quince stock all below ground. 
Some varieties strike root sooner than oth¬ 
ers ; the Bartlett, for Instance, will root in a 
year or two. How pears would do, worked 
on the quince so high as to prevent their 
getting pear l oots, I do not know. 1 have 
never tried it, for the reason that It would 
be troublesome to save them from being 
killed by the quince borer, and I never had f 
faith that they would live or thrive very t 
long. A good deal lias been said about f j 
keeping tree9 dwarf by root pruning, or r 
some such appliances; but I presume this 
is not much practiced in this country, and 
will not be, at least, not till we get a pienti- I 
fnl supply ftf coolies, or some other system I 
of cheap labor. It will be secu, from wdiat \ 
I have said, that I do not make much ac¬ 
count. of dwarfs; and in treating of vnrie- e 
t ies, I would be understood as speaking en- r 
tindy in reference to trees on pear roots, d 
And here 1 would remark that I do not find, 
in my own experience, the difference that 1 
was led to suppose there would be, in some 
varieties, when grown on standard or on 
dwarf trees. 
I do not wish to be understood, from what 
I have said, as wishing to discourage the 
planting of quince-rooted pear trees; on the 
contrary, 1 think it a very good way of 
getting standard trees; the habit of hear¬ 
ing they acquire, when on the quince, seems 
to stick to them for some time, and is 
an advantage, where il is considered more 
of an object to have a few pears soon, Ilian 
it is to get trees, a few- years later, large 
enough to bear a great many. I have con- 
dots. Stalk rather long, slender, inserted in 
a large and broad cavity, russetted, which 
often extends in rays beyond the cavity; 
calyx closed or half open; basin large, un¬ 
even. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, juicy, 
tender, mild sub-acid, rather rich, slightly 
aromatic, quality very good ; core small. 
Tuttle. 
P. 8. Beers of Cheshire, Conn., sent me 
specimens of this variety, which he believes 
is a native of that town, as it cannot be 
traced any farther, and has been cultivated 
there a number of years. Tree a handsome 
upright, vigorous grower, a good bearer and 
an excellent. 
Fruit medium, roundish, oblate, conic, 
the accompanying sketches thereof,) in the 
following terms At first sight this apple, 
which was first brought to notice by Dr. 
UsitiiEMAX of Downington, Pa., would be 
taken for the May Apple; at least such are 
the specimens before me. Downing de¬ 
scribes it as yellow streaked with red -, hut 
the specimens (from Ellwanoer & Barry) 
which I now draw and note, are covered 
with a dingy dull red, and dotted with large 
light dots. The stein is slender, and the 
calyx is as ofien erect in its segments as it is 
ruflexed. The flesh is white, and while ten¬ 
der and pleasant, lias no special character. 
New IVadtCN. 
J. J. Thomas reports to the Western New 
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TH-E IvIjvV PltOT’H -A.3?T»L,lfl .A.2V U (J U 
sidered these remarks, upon the subject of I sides sometimes unequal; skin pale yellow, 
dwarfs, proper, in order to put planters on shaded and obscurely splashed and striped 
dwarfs, proper, in order to put planters on 
their guard against the mistake that I was 
led into myself, of planting quince-roojgjl 
trees too close, with the idea that they would 
never get large. Though I have frequently 
heard the contrary asserted, I give it as my 
with light and dark red nearly over the 
whole surface. Stalk short and medium, 
inserted in rather large cavity, with slight 
russet; calyx closed, basin small, slightly 
corrugated. Flesh whitish, fine, tender, 
deliberate opinion that pears- on quince I juicy, mild, pleasant sub-acid, quality very 
will, in a very lew years, if they live at all, 
be found to have nothing but pear roots, 
and then, if the ground is good enough 
to grow pears at. all, they cannot be Iccpt 
dwarfed without a great deal more labor 
than would ho likely to be bestowed on 
them. So that very close planting, less than 
fifteen or twenty feet, should not be prac¬ 
ticed, unless it is done with the intention of 
good, core medium to large. Ripens De¬ 
cember to April. 
Tunic of Genova. 
Grafts of this were sent, me some years 
since from Geneva, N. Y., from Mr. Tuttle, 
but 1 know notbiug of its origin, growth, or 
bearing qualities. It produced fruit the past 
season, which was of very good quality. 
Fruit of medium size, roundish oblate, 
TJUUSTK. 
York Horticultural Society as follows: 
“ Among the new peaches that have fruited 
the past season arc three varieties raised by 
Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, Eng¬ 
land, which are very promising early kinds, 
viz.:-—Early Rivers, Early Albert and Early 
Alfred. They are all early, and of excellent 
quality; trees vigorous, productive, and 
worthy of an extensive trial. 
ntomolerjtral. 
SNOUT-BEETLES 
need, unless it is clone wiUi tlic intention of Fruit of medium size, roundish oblate, T Sll 
thinning out in a few years.—[To be con- slightly angular; skin pale yellow, moder- * 0,, ' , ° ru > >M earetn es 
tinued. 
NATIVE APPLES. 
Report of tho Committee on Native Fruits 
to tlie Western N. Y. Hurt. Hoe. 
BY J. J. THOMAS. 
Hose Red. 
I have received specimens, the postseason, 
from N. P. Aldrich of Egypt, Monroe Co., 
N. Y., who writes me the original tree stands 
on the farm formerly owned by Gideon 
Ramsdell, and being a favorite in the neigh¬ 
borhood, was propagated by the Loud Bros, 
in their nursery. Tree a thrifty strong 
grower, an abundant and uniform bearer; 
commences to ripen early in September, and 
continues a month or more. 
Fruit of medium size, oblate, a little in¬ 
clining to conic; skin whitish, shaded, 
splashed and striped with light and dark 
ately sprinkled with brown dots. Stalk 
short, slender, set in a medium cavity; calyx 
closed, basin abrupt, deep, corrugated. 
Flesh white, fine, tender, juicy, pleasant sub¬ 
acid, quality very , core email. 
Scliuylor’K Sivcei. 
A large, showy apple, ripening in October, 
originated on the lands of Rensselaer 
Schuyler, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Tree in 
vigor and form resembles the Baldwin, and 
is productive. 
Fruit large to very large, roundish, inclin¬ 
ing to roundish oblate; skin pale yellow, 
with a few scattering brown dots. Stalk 
rather short, slender, inserted in a large deep 
cavity; calyx closed, basin large, deep, 
slightly corrugated. Flesh whitish, half 
fine, lender, moderately juicy, pleasant 
sweet, quality good to very good ; coresmall. 
A new seedling apple was received from 
( hah, Arnold, Paris, Ont., a few days since, 
red over the whole surface, and often very which is of fine quality and worthy of a trial 
dark when exposed to the sun, and a few in other localities, Mr. Arnold says it is a 
areolc dots. Stalk rather short, slender, in- seedling of Northern Spy, fructified with 
serted in a large, deep cavity ; calyx closed ; pollen of Wagoner and Spitzeulmrg. The 
BY C’llAS. V. RILEY. 
[Read before the Ill. State Horticultural Society.] 
[Continued from page 78, Feb. C] 
Keeping It in Check by tlie Oiler of 
1*1*1*111 I M Ml«t 
After visiting Bt. Joseph and vicinity, I 
passed into Ontario, where 1 found the trees 
overloaded with fine, unblemished fruit. I 
found my friend, Mr. W.\t. Saunders of 
London, also much Occupied with, and in¬ 
terested in, the curculio question. lie was, 
in fact, carefully counting different lots of 
this insect which had been received from 
different parts of the Dominion ; for he it 
known that the enterprising Fruit Growers’ 
Association of Ontario, in its praiseworthy 
efforts to check (he increase of the curculio, 
offered a cent per head for every one which 
should be sent to our friend, who happened 
to be secretary of that body. What would 
you think, gentlemen, if the Legislature of 
Illinois, or if this Society should offer an 
equally liberal premium per capita for every 
little Turk captured V Wouldn’t you set 
about capturing them in earnest, though ! 
Fio. 2.—Back View op Ward’s Curcttlio-Catoher. 
Fig. 3. —Front View op Ward’s Curculio-Catcher. 
basin large. Flesh fine, yellowish, very fruit in form, color and flavor is more like The Legislature might stand it and I am 
tender, juicy, with a refreshing vinous flavor, Wagener than either of tho others, and not sure but that some such* inducement, 
quality vciy good or best; core small or seems to keep well. held out by the State to its fruit growing 
medium. Buiiey’« Crlniaou Crab. citizens, would pay, and prove the most 
n 8 irwick. A new variety, raised by Wm. H. Bailey, effective way of subduing the enemy. But 
r i * 1 r7 ere 75 mc 3 T e 7T S 9mce by Plattsburgh, N. Y. The fruit is large, very the horticultural society that should under- 
...win. oNEso .entteville, Indiana, which handsome, nearly covered with a bright take it would have to bo pretty liberally en- 
u> ‘ ie P^t season fine specimens, and rich crimson and a whitish bloom. Tree dowed. Just think of it; ye who catch 
wui. o ury gooi quality. vigorous, upright, and very productive. from three to five thousand per day! The 
Fruit large, roundish, oblate; skin yellow, ---- bugs would pay a good deal better than the 
C ". UL •Y 0V,, T 1 ',' r ! r cP P» , ich red, and Klaprotli Apple. peaches. However, very fortunately for the 
rather obscure y splashed and striped with a In his notes on “ Fruits Received,” F. R. Ontario Fruit Growers’ Association, their 
i ai vci hue and many light irregular shaped Elliott mentions this apple, (and sends us good offer did not get noised abroad as it 
Klaproth Apple. 
In his notes on “ Fruits Received,” F. R. 
take it would have to be pretty liberally en¬ 
dowed. Just think of it; ye who catch 
from three to five thousand per day! The 
bugs would pay a good deal better than the 
peaches. However, very fortunately for the 
Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, their 
might have been, and the little Turk occurs 
in such comparatively small numbers that 
up to the time 1 left, only 10,731 had been 
received. 
Jnn-imr by Machinery. 
Of course there is no more expeditious 
way of jarring down the curculio than by 
the Hull curculio-catcher. Yet, I confess 
that after extensive observation in many 
different parts of the country, 1 am forced to 
the conclusion that this machine does not 
give the satisfaction one could wish. In my 
paper lust, year 1 showed that where it was 
constantly used the trees suffered serious 
injury from bruising, and it is a rather sig¬ 
nificant, fact that in most orchards where it 
lias been introduced, some modification has 
soon followed, or else it him been entirely 
abandoned; while in the East they still 
adhere to the improved stretchers, aud mat- 
let. It seems to me that the machine, as 
made by your State Horticulturist two years 
ago, was not only too heavy and unwieldy, 
lint incapable of giving the requisite sharp 
jarring rap to the branches of a large tree 
without, causing too muck injury to the 
trunk ; and that if a modification of it could 
be made to satisfy the peach grower, there 
would soon be a greater demand for it. As 
a step in the right direction 1 will briefly 
describe a machine which 1 have herewith 
illustrated, and which 1 found in quite gene¬ 
ral use around Bt. Joseph and Benton Har¬ 
bor, Mich, (twosgotten uphyL, M. Wakd 
of the latter place, and proves, in the orchard, 
to have decided advantages over the Hull 
machine, of which it. is a modification. It 
is a much lighter machine, and, as the dia¬ 
grams indicate, instead of running on a single 
wheel it is carried and balanced by two, 
(Fig. 2, <7, <\) and supported with legs* on the 
handles, (Fig. 2, b, //,) when not running. 
The curculios and stung fruit are brushed 
through a hole in the center, (Fig. 2, rf,) and 
as the operator passes from one tree to an¬ 
other lie doses this hole, to prevent the 
beetles from escaping, by means of a slide, 
(Fig. 2, «■,) which he lias under control. Bags 
previously prepared, by being fastened on to 
a square piece of wood with a hole in the 
center, corresponding to a hole in the side of 
the bag, are snugly buttoned below (Fig. 2, 
e and,/,) so us to secure everything that falls 
through from above, and when one bag is 
full it is easily replaced by another, and its 
contents destroyed by scalding, or otherwise, 
and emptied out. In most of the orchards 
where tin’s machine was being used the jar¬ 
ring was performed by a separate mallet, 
which is easily living, as is also the brush,on 
the shafts when the machine is being operated 
by one person, or, which 1 think a hotter way 
where help is not scarce, it can, with the 
brush, be carried by a second person (an 
intelligent boy will ‘answer,) who performs 
the jarring and brushing while the first per¬ 
son wheels the machine. 
The machine is simple in construction, 
and any one with ordinary mechanical 
ability can build il modifying, of course, 
the diameter of the wheels ana the inclina¬ 
tion of the sheet to suit the character of his 
trees or of his ground. Mr. Ward lias 
taken no patent out tor it, and the machine 
is, therefore, public property. It has been 
argued in favor of the one wheel machine 
that it can be more easily run on rough 
ground and more readily turned, which, in 
a great measure, is true; hut the Ward 
machine is so light (bat d ean easily he tilted 
on one wheel in turning, and our Benton 
Harbor friends have so far found no diffi¬ 
culty in operating it. Either machine can 
be used with a I nun per. or with a mallet, 
amt there are certain rules which should he 
adopted in jarring for the curculio, no mat¬ 
ter whether a one-wheel or a two-wheel 
machine is used. These rules are:—First, 
in jarring with a mallet, il is best to prepare 
each tree by squarely sawing off some par¬ 
ticular limb, or else the mallet must be well 
protected with rubber to prevent bruising of 
the tender bark. The former custom is by 
fur the best, as we urn enabled to give the 
tree a sharp, vibrating rap with the bare hard 
wood. Secondly, if the mullet is dispensed 
with, and the tree is bumped with the ma¬ 
chine—a method which certainly has the 
advantage of expedition — it will be found 
altogether more profitable to drive a shoul¬ 
dered spike in the trunk at the right distance 
from the ground, and the jarring can then 
always he done on this spike without injury 
to the tree. 
Two True Parasites of tin* Plain Cni'culio. 
Just ten years ago, in his "Address on the 
Curculio," delivered at the annual meeting 
of the New York Btate Agricultural Society, 
Dr. Pitch gave an account, accompanied 
with a figure, of a small Ichneumon fly, 
which he named Signljthm mrculwnis, and 
which he believed was parasitic on the cur- 
culio. Before that time, no parasite had 
ever been known to attack thin pestilent little 
weevil, and even up to the present time, it is 
currently believed that no such parasite ex¬ 
ists; for unfortunately the evidence given by 
Dr. Fitch was not sufficient to satisfy some 
of our most eminent entomologists. These 
parasites were, in fact, received by him from 
Dr. D. W. Beadle of St. Catharines, Out., 
who had bred them from black knot, from 
which lie bred, at the same time, a certain 
number of curculios; but as other worms 
besides those of the curculio arc likewise 
found in black knot, wc had no absolute 
proof that this fly was parasitic, on the insect 
in question. Coiisecmently, we tiud that our 
late Walsh, in his Report as Acting Btate 
Entomologist, rather ridicules the idea of its 
being a curculio parasite, aud endeavors to 
prove that it is parasitic instead, on the larva 
of bis plum moth, (Semasia prvnivora.) But 
1 have this year, not only proved that poor 
W alsh was himself wrong in this particular 
inference, but that he was equally wrong in 
supposing his little plum moth, so-called, to 
be confined to plums; for 1 have bred it 
from Galls, {O. ff.fwndonta, Bassett;) from 
baws, from crab apples, and abundantly 
from other apples.—[To be continued. 
