212 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
thorities maintain that it takes ten 
times as much nourishment from the 
tree to form seed as it does to form 
pulp, hence the wisdom of reducing by 
thinning the proportion of seed to pulp. 
Regarding the question of diseases, 
we consider this matter was so fully dis¬ 
cussed in the paper on this same subject 
at the last meeting of the Society we 
will not weary our readers with a repe¬ 
tition as, so far as we are able to ascer- 
tain, there have been no new develop¬ 
ments either in new diseases or in new 
methods for controlling those that are 
already known. 
V 
PEARS 
Too many of our fruit growers do 
not regard pears as worthy of their 
consideration, low prices, blight and 
thrips being responsible for this view. 
The last few years, however, the prices 
have been much better, and especially 
so on early fruit shipped to northern 
markets. The later fruit usually sells 
quite readily in local markets at remun¬ 
erative prices. 
The first consideration in controlling 
blight is the selection of a suitable lo¬ 
cation for the orchard. Hammock, wet 
or insufficiently drained land, and clay 
basins should never be selected for 
pears. It seems sandy land without 
clay for a considerable depth is best, but 
clay lying nearer the surface is not so 
objectionable if the land is well drained 
and does not occur in the form of a 
basin. The object of this is to select 
a soil which will always have ample 
drainage and promote a slow, well ma¬ 
tured growth of wood. It may even be 
stated that soil which is ordinarily 
too poor for the production of field 
crops is well adapted to pears. The 
bacteria which causes blight enters in 
two ways, either through the tips of 
rapidly growing wood or through the 
bloom. By checking a too succulent 
growth of wood this avenue of entry 
is blocked. However, the bacteria may 
still enter through the bloom, but by 
removing all fruit spurs from, the lar¬ 
ger limbs, these can be protected, and 
where it enters the smaller limbs these 
may be removed in pruning without 
a very serious loss of top. All pruning 
tools should be dipped in carbolineum 
or Bordeaux to prevent infection. 
It is best to prune in summer, as the 
trees will not then make such a rapid 
growth which would induce new infec¬ 
tion. The only essential pruning for 
pear trees is to give proper shape, re¬ 
move fruit spurs from the large limbs, 
and cut out dead or diseased wood. 
Thrips attack pear-bloom, causing it 
to fall, and giving the leaves a shaggy 
diminutive appearance as if they had 
been exposed to fire. 
Tobacco decoctions or other sprays 
will hold the insects in check and in¬ 
sure a good crop of fruit. Rains or 
cool weather at the blooming period 
will have the same efifect. 
San Jose scale attacks the Garber and 
Smith pear, but it is easily controlled 
bv spraying. 
In fertilizing very little ammonia is 
needed, but plenty of lime, phosphoric 
acid and potash should be applied. 
Thinning of fruit should be practised as 
in peach culture, and for the same rea- 
