The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-08-21
FARM AND GARDEN.
i Glance at the Pear Trees

AboHt this time it is well to keep good
watch over the pear trees. Those which are
likely to be overloaded should have thelf
fruit thinned out, removing the smallest from
each cluster and the greatest NUMBER from
the slender branches An equal Distribution
over the entire tree will insure the larges'
specimens without injury to any particular
branch. A good, large pear tree, OF even u u
small one OF n years growth, IS worth All
the attention which may be required 10 keep
is healthy and vigorous, but Il little neglect
in its destruction. Sometimes the pihchlng
off of the ends of our luXuriant shoots, at
this season, will aid much III equalizng
growth and make a more severe system OF
pruning at another season unnecessary.
Drouths frequently occur in summer just
at time when trui. requires the greatest
amount of moisture to enable 1t to reach full
size and maturity, and when this happens
the trees should be muched quite heavily, in
order to keep up supply at the roots, for
without water there can be neither fruit nor
a new growth of wood. More trees suffer
from the want OF moisture at the roots than
for manure, in our climate, and there is no
better way Of supplying the deficiency than
by applying some kind of coarse material to
the surface of the soil above them. Frequent
stirring OF the soil may in measure take the
place of mulch, but not fully in dry seasons,
or upon very porous, light soils; besides, one
application Of some good material as mulch
will last an entire season, after which the
orchardlst may rest content in regard to any
failure which might have resulted in conse-
quence Of drouths. OF course, upon heavy
and naturally moist Soils mulching may be
more injurious than beneficial; but few men
would select such land for pear orchard, at
least not until it was thoroughly underdrain-
oil Mt ,,.h; ah 1;,,It 1oh n
fetal during summer, even If for nothing
more than to save frequent cultivation.
PEAR SLUG.
This perniclous insect has been quite abun-
daht IN pear orchards the present season; IN
fact, it is to be found in small numbers every
year but only occasionally does it do any
great amount of damage. 1t Is small, black,
Shiny caterpillar, which eats out the green
portion of the leaves, merely leaving the mid
RIB and woody parts. This mischievous lit
tie slug Is the larva Of small fly known as
abe .SeLtndrt Cerdsi of PECK. a few days is
sufficient for this pest to destroy the leaves OF
a large tree, or even an entire orchard hence
the need of immediate attention upon their
first appearance. AS the slugs have Shiny,
sticky coat, almost any sticky substance, like
dry lime or ashes, is certain death, and even
dry dust from road or field thrown over the
trees will usually destroy them. busting the
trees with lime is the most certain destroyer.
There are also several other species of this
insect, some of which attack the rose, linden
and cherry, but all are readily destroyed in
the same manner.
PRUNNITG.
Where the branches in the heads of trees
have become too thick to admit Of free cir
culation Of air or light sufficient to mature
the young growth, the thinning out of such
may as well be done now as at any other
time. Interlacing and crowding branches
can be seen more readily now than when de-
nuded of foliage in winter, and the wounds
made IN severlng will heal quite as readily
The trees may either be trimmed up or head
ed back as may be desired, the different va
rieties requiring different treatment in order
to bling them to the required form, either tor
convenience in cuItivating or the better sus-
tanning of their load Of fruit.
The pear orchard, like everything else upon
the farm or in the garden, requires attention
in order TO make it profitable as well as salts.
factory.-Rurdl Neo Yorker.