Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-01-18

mature growth exclusively, or resort
to other expedients for the accom-
plishment Of the same result. In
short, we must have no more discol-
ored wood, blackened growth. or
poisoned sap to infect and DESTROY
the tree.
To secure the desired end, proper
and eiiectual root-pruning is one of
the remedies, or preventives, which
has la the experience OF Doctor Hull
and other HorticulturiSts of Illinois,
proved efiectuaI; and why is this eff
ticaclous? Simply because the opera
| ton prevents luXuriance, and there
by in the order of nature, secures per-
feet maturity in every branch. This
we know as simple matter of fact.
patent to all observers. Any meta
physical disquisition on the tree, its
physiological structure, such as it's
sues, Wood-cells, muciiaginous glob-
ules, their several functions. &C., &C..
tend only to unutterable mystitica-
ton. For plain, fat-footed, practical
purposes. among workers, not teach
ers in Science, we might as well dis
course in Chinese or Choctaw.
Root-pruning, though doubtless eff
fectual, when practiced according TO
natures admonitions, is attended
with much labor and expense. Is
there a substitute which is more
simple and economical? ! enter
tanned the same theory as DR.. Hubs
about seven years ago, bat adopted
different method, or methods, to at
tain the result which he does by root
pruning; in other words, to provide
against soft and unripencd growth.
which if on the tree, must be injured
by the winter
From the circumstances however,
which led me to the adoption Of that
theory, | also learned anOtherimpor-
tant fact, which, while it might have
been patent to Others, was till then
a sealed book to me. | discovered
that pear trees sheltered from the
winter sun were far less liable to ter
minal freezing and blight than those
exposed toit; and that thiseXemption
applied to the trunkso the south side,
aswell as tOthe tops. In looking over
a small pear nursery which had been
standing four or five years, | found
them so variously affected that it eX
cited my surprise 50 that | began to
inquire into the cause Of the differ
ence. The part of the nursery left,
was composed, if | remember cor
rectly, Of four rows running east and
west, and were on the north side of a
dense grove or hedge Of Arborvit1s.
The first row was within three feet
Of the cvergreens, and the fourth one
about fifteen feet distant. On exam
ination | found the fourth and third
rows nearly all dead; and those not
entirely dead badlyinjured byblight.
The second row was not nearsO badly
affected-scveral Of them apparently
quite sound. The first row, standing
in close proximity to, and entirely
sheltered from the winter sun by the
screen of Arborvit@s, was uninjured,
the trees looking thrifty, and m0Stol
them having more or less fruit. This
was in the Summer Of 1864. The
evcrpreenS were seven or eight feet
in hight. ] attributed the healthy
condition of the first row to two
causes: 1st, protection from the win
ter sun; ID, the checking Of the
second growth; hence maturity
Of the wood.
They were on the Anglers ounce
stock. and not generally over four or
five feet high. In the fall OF that
year, | lifted about twenty select
ones, and planted on the grounds
around my residence, mostly IN the
Immediate vicinity and on the north
side of evergreens, where they now
stand. in q sound state as far as ! can
discover, and have fruited more or
less every year since, except the next
one after transplanting. Last year
they produced a fine crop Of perfect
fruit. They have been most Of the
time well worked, and generally
muched for winter.
But this is not all. / have regular
w, i'm the Fall, and before freezing
that would iniure them, cut OIL the
ends of all branches having II soft
terminal growth, down to the mature
wood. This would frequently enl-
brace all the last or second grown.
Tins pruned or cut in, there was no
soft wood left to freeze, or cngender
POISONED sap and thereby induce
blight. You discover therefore thai
7 accomplish the same end would
by root-pruning, and with not one
tenth of the labor. In this way my
trees remain healthy, and ! calculate
as certainly on crop of pears as DO
on yield Of apples; nn
Nv experiments have been contin-
ned long enough to inspire much
confidence, and to justify renewed
perseverance. At the end of seven
Years, trial / feel that | ought TO
make it known, and recommend
the treatment to others for further
trial. ] am well satisfied that by a
little extra care pears can not only be
raised in Iowa, but that by proper
culture and simple appliances, we
can produce as fine specimens All
qualities considered, as can be grown
in the United States.
For the last two years l nave pefii
experimenting with iron, and must
saw with very satisfactory results. l
have often heard OF its use IN pear
cnlture but never made trial OF IL
,,nt;I two wears ago. L used IL theii