The farmers' vindicator., 1876-05-05

Pear Culture for Market,

Pear Culture for Market
The pear is delicious fruit and i
greatly esteemed by all. 1t is NOR,
difficult to raise than. most other fruits
and it requires experience and skill tc
do it successfully. Mr.. Fahnestock
of Ohio, has been quite successful, anC
gave report of his experience at the
recent meeting of the Ohio State Hor
ticultural Society, which Mr.. M. b.
Bateham condensed for the American
Farm journal. As we have large
number of readers in the South, who
are engaged in cultivating the pear for
the northern market, we publish it, as
they may obtain some valuable hints :
The roots of the pear. The roots of
the pear naturally run deep, and the
best soil is rich clay, or clayey loan,
we'll drained or naturally dry, and
having clayey subsoil-not too COM
pact, but gravelly, or friable, so that
the roots can penetrate it to sufficient
depth to escape the reach of heat and
drouth. Goodness and moisture be-
meath, without saturation, are the chief
requisites; AMI to these Mr.. Fahnes-
took attributes much of his exemption
from blight and other causes of failure.
Preparation of the soil consists of
deep plowing, with subsoil plow fol-
lowing in the furrow of common
pillow, thus loosening thes subsoil as
deeply, as possible, without bringing it
onto the surface.
The distance apart, recommended
for the trees, istwenty feet. Set small
stakes at the places for the trees, in
straight rows. both ways; dig the holes
at least two feet wide and eighteen in.
ches deep. Throw shovelful of good
surface earth into the hole before set
ting the tree, and fill in about the roots
with the same, pressing it firmly with
the foot.
Mulching afterwards is of much i'm
portance. Mr.. Fahnestock prefers, for
this purpose, half frotted stable manure
having some straw in it. 1t should be
laid around each tree for at least three
feet in extent, and thick enough to
shield the ground from the sun. 1t
will protect the roots from injury by
drouth, and greatly promote the growth
Of the trees.
Choice of ees.-He prefers trees
of healthy growth, not over two years
old from the bud, as these are easily
taken up at the nursery with their
roots almost entire, and hence are not
SO much checked by removal as are
older trees. They. are also much easier
to train into any desired shape.
Pruning.-Mr. Fahnestock recon.
nends planting all standard trees-no
1warfs-and he trains them into the
'orm of handsome pyramids by cut
ing off the tops to within two or, at
most, three feet of the ground, and re-
moving the side branches, if any, so
rs to leave nothing but straight stems
It the time of planting. When the
Tte utBhIS W BIo"y lOb oilc oiooI IahC
he lead and form the main stem, pro-
yided there are two or three others to
orm branches; but ie not, pinch off
he head OF the leader in midsummer,
10 as to compel the formation of several
within three feet ofthe ground,
md then others at different heights,
Is may be needed for the pyramidal
orm, but not SO numerous or so near
.ogether as to crowd each other, or
make the tops difficult Of access. With
/ little care each year, not much pru-1
ling will at any time be necessary.
Prevention ofBight.-N to deep
joil and mulching, Mr.. Fahnstock be-
ieves that his exemption from blight
S largely owing to his trees having
uch low heads that their trunks are
ully shaded from the sun. He also
,oes over his trees each spring and
grapes off the rough bark, and washes
he trunks with lye orstrong soap suds;
nd if any black spots are seen, he
haves of'all the dead bark and washes
he places with coperas water, which
tops the spreading of the mischief.