San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-02-01

row, having no faitn in them for this
country. but pAerely intending to test
the possibility Of success. In 1879 l
planted three dwarf trees as the begin.
ming Of my pear orchard. At the aug.
gesiioni Of Msj. Phillips, ! visited
Capt. Jones, Of Gonzales county. and
examined bis orchard then thirteen
years old. The sight Of his thrifty
and productive trees gave me such en-.
couragelnent thatl felt willing to ex-
tend my experiments. Pro6ting By
his experience l selected several vati-
cites that he had found most success.
full. l have from time to time added
to the list, till I have about forty va.
rieties. I planted q few trees annual
ly, until in 1876 had an orchard. Of
about. .oae hundred pear trees. In the
mean time l have visited Capt. Jones
orchard every year and watched care
fully its history. Capt Jones and my
self have constituted o pomologicol
society Of which we were the sole
members. We have Oosresponded fire.
quently and met every year. have COM
pared experiences. exchanged sugges
tions and studied together. His old
er experience has been worth ten
years Of time to me, as well as of vast
service to the people of Western Tex
as. His valuable life and labors are
closed, and in him We have all lost a
benefactor. 4,
IulS77 my faith in pears for this
region had become such that I extend.
ed my pear orchard to Eve hundred
trees, and now, such are the, develop,
ments 10 favor Of pear culture for
profit here. I have resolved to Increase
my orchard to one thousand trees.
Z My Oldest trees of Duchess dc An
gouleme, Washington, Andrews and
Doyenne de Etc are very heavily load
ed, with fruit, "Of the first named va
riety seldom fail to raise samples
measuring twelve inches in circum.
ferance. OF the last named I have
this year matured two hundred pears
on my oldesttree Of the variety, now
Blk years planted. Many other varis-
tics are interestingly productive--all
varieties seemI1to be doing we'll. ~
have never yet found in my orchard a
diseased pearltree, land fully believe
that this is a. good pear country. 4
think that this region will be found
adapted toa larger number otvarieties
than most localities in which pear cul.
ture hasibeen tested, ltiniend that
one- half of my new planting shall be
of the Duchesside Angoleme, one. half
the remainder Andrews. and the ma.
jority Of the balance Washington and
Doyenne de Etc. eaJ ,bn ii4.h gf1
b Still another important condition in
pear culture is to break off tha wind.
This prevents the fruit from being
whipped off by the wind, and the trees
will be found to make q better growth.
Where row of evergreens is not OBJ
jectiona bic, the Chinese arbor vita
will makeIan excellent wind break. A
good purpose is served by single row
of peach trees. ten ior twelve feet
apart all around,th plot. adi
There arc other considerations con-
nected with pear culture which would
occupy LOO much space for this article.
Those who desire information upon
this subject are referred to Quinn on
Pear Culture and those who wish to
see living and growing illustrations Of
success may reap encouragement from
a visit to the orchard of Capt. Jones,
in Gonzales, or my own trees at the
Valley Nurseries. Everybody
is invited to come and see. l will
give my time to visitors upon any day
except Sunday.
MISSION VALLEY, June 9Th, '78.