Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-18
wORC e s T ER:
MARCH Is. 1859.
rhe SIX Fest Pears.

A correspondent writes to US as follows;-
81 have a piece of land connected with my
house which propose to cultivate as a fruit
garden / shall set out about sixty pear trees
to grow as dwarf trees, and l wish to be better
informed in regard TO the most desirable varl-
cites l want a few of the best kinds for cul-
ture here in central Massachusetts. Will you,
or some of the wise cultivators of pears among
your correspondents. give list of the six best
varieties for my purpose. The publication OF
such list in The SPY will interest many OF
your readers besides myself"
Oar first thought was to hand this letter to
some of The gentlemen in Worcester who have
studied this pear question carefully, both in
the books and in their fruit gardens. But We
will first reply TO our correspondent, hoping
that some of them will be induced to discuss
the matter thoroughly. There are many who
desire such information, and many fruit gar
dens that would be far more satisfactory TO
their owners, if more intelligence and care
had regulated the selection and planting of
their fruit trees. A flourishing, beautiful, and
productive fruit garden is the dream of many
who never realize it. Some OF those who,
having opportunity, attempt to realize the
dream, fail through lack of the knowledge and
skill necessary to success; ana having failed,
they can never afterwards endure patiently
any thing said very warmly in behalf OF fruit
culture. If those who understand what is
necessary 10 success in the culture of fruit
especially pears, will give judiciCus advice, in
reply to cur correspondent, they will do many
persons an important service.
Our list of The SIX best pears, for culture On
the ounce stock here in central Massachu-
setts would be as follows :-Doyenne d'Ete,
Bartlett, Louise Bonnie de Jersey, Belle Luz
cralive, Seckel, and Duchess d'Angouleme.
These varieties are sure to do well, if properly
taken care OF, and they will furnish fruit from
August to December. Ii a winter pear is
wanted, take the Winter Nels on its own stock
and plant it on the north side of the garden
or try the Beurre d 'Aremburg on ounce, and
leave out the Belle Lucrative or the Seckel.
We trust that some OF our skilful cultivators
will criticise this list, and give their own views
on the subject. Those who have cultivated
pears successfully, in this part of the state,
can give mere useful advice TO such men as
our correspondent than successful cultivators
in New York, or even in the towns near 3os-
ton. We invite them to do so in our columns.
Ii every cultivator whose experience with
pears qualities him to give good advice, will
furnish a list Of the six best pears, those de-
string information will be able to select judi
ciously for themselves.
But it should be distinctly understood by
those interested, that TO cultivate pears sue
cessfully, something more than a selection of
the hardest and best varieties is required.
The soil must be suitably prepared by under
draining and trenching. The trees must be
carefully planted at the right depth in the soil
and carefully nursed. Fruit trees will not do
well where the soil is not in proper condition
to receive them, and if tree is planted in any
soil and then lett to take care of itself, it can
not reasonably be expected to thrive, and bear
regular crops of good fruit In many cases
of failure, the fault is more in the owner Of
the fruit garden than in his trees. He has not
cultivated his trees. He has left them without
proper training, neglected to supply them with
proper nutriment, and omitted to defend them
against the depredations OF insects. He
would not deal in that way by his corn
or cabbages and expect good returns, and yet
can misuse his fruit trees by neglect,
and expect them to prosper, and bear good
fruit abundantly. Nothing can be more un-
reasonable.
Therefore. when you have selected your
trees, understand that this is only the begin
ming of what you have to do; and, unless you
are willing to take proper care of your trees
after planting, it will be better to devote your
garden wholly TO vegetables or corn, which
you will be likely to take care OF, or leave it
to the care of weeds. At this season of
the year, many others besides our CORES.
pondent are thinking of fruit trees and
preparing to plant them. We hope they
will go on and realize their expectations. But
to have that charming dream of thrifty fruit
garden filed with trees of beautiful and lus-
cious fruit, come true, they must proceed in
telligenty and expect no returns which their
attention to their trees has not deserved