Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-08-12
Dwarf Pears.

THURSDAY EVENING, AUG. u. 1890.
Dwarf Pears.
Germantown Telegraph.
Every now and then We sec an attack
upon the growing of pears grated on
ounce stock in order to dwarf the tree
and cause it to fruit early and give large
specimens. 1t is true there was time
when the cultivation of dwarf pears were
more popular than now, though We think
that the aggregate of trees are very much
greater now than formerly, as there are
few gardens, especially attached to coun-
try seats, where numerous dwarf trees are
not to be found.
AS VIC have said repeatedly that from
the establishing of a garden upon our pres
cnt premises, which was in 1847, We have
grown the dwarf pear quite extensively
for the space We had at our command. A
number of these now in full bearing and
in good health, were planted in that year,
and must have been at that time some
three or four years old. Some of those
originally planted have Of course disap-
pearcd, but in nearly every instance death
was caused by blight. But many more
young ones have succumbcd to the same
cause and We can truly say SO have many
standard pears, and to q greater extent,
comparing numbers, than of the dwarfs.
Some of our trees are certainly thirty
five years old, and look as though, in
some few instances, they might last anoth-
er thirty-five years. They arc constant
bearers-somc years naturally greater than
in others. This year the crop of dwarfs
and standards, especially the latter, is
very moderate-the old century standards
scarcely bearing any at all, which is very
unusual occurrence. But many of the
dwarfs have good crops of very perfect
fruit. The dwarf Tyson-which by-the-
bye is the best pear upon our premises ex-
cept the Seckel-werc loaded with fruit.
Even standard Tyson, though dozen
years in fruiting, was very full at the top.
Many people who have their doubts of the
length of life and productivcness of the
dwarf tree, have visited our premises to
become convinced Of what can be done
with them, and went away with their Opin-
ions wholly changed. 1t is true the dwarf
tree requires more attention than the
standards, which arc left to take care Of
themselves after arriving at a certain age,
but no more than any other crop in the
garden. They require careful pruning,
the trunks scrapcd and washed with whale
oil soap and water, and the ground, owing
to their short roots, made rich by manur-
ing rs much rs for any crop.
The last attack upon the dwarfS is from
Mr.. L. Il. Quinn, whom We freely admit is
an experienced grower of pears. lie re-
CARDS the planting OF dwarfs for either
orchard or gardens, on the ground that the
fruit was superior TO standard, not merely
= mistake but swindlc. We cannot ex-
actly understand where the "swindle "
comes in, but freely admit that there may
justly be a difference OfOpiniOn as to the
profit in cultivation of the two modes.
We never held-nor can We put our finger
on 4 single instance wherein it was claimed
that as a matter of profit the dwarf was
to be preferred. We have always held that
for private gardens, or where space was a
matter Of prime consideration, the dwarf
pear was indispensable, as we'll also that
perfect. Wchold to this still, and do now,
as VIC did twenty-five or thirty years ago,
universally recommend it for private cult
walton.
We may agree with Mr.. Quinn rs to the
standard pear being more profitable where
it is grown for market to very large ex-
tent, but VIC should nevertheless always
have an acre or two Of them for this pur-
pose, did VIC grow fruit for marketing pur-
poses, being fully satisfied that we could
obtain from the land about rs many dol
lars and cents rs from a majority of mar
keting fruits, and more than from standard
trees, less of course the increased expense
Ofcultivating.
Spring Fall.
Germantown Telegraph.
We have two or three inquiries now be-
fore us, as to whether spring or fall is the
best time to set out trees. We can't tell
how often We have treated on this subject,
but it is natural that the question should
continue to be asked. as young men grow
up, marry, and either go to farming or in
other ways possess land and desire infor-
nation as to what fruit trees to plant
and when to plant them. In a very few
words VIC would say that there is not
much choice in the seasons. If the soil
is naturally moist, spring is probably to
be preferred for setting out if dry, fall.
Ii the trees arc large early fall should
he chosen, and as soon as the trees are
done growing and the leaves begin to
drop. In both cases the trees should be
taken out of the ground carefully and
with rs many Of the small roots rs posi-
ble, before the roots become dry. TO pre-
vent this becoming SO they should be we'll
cOVcrcu, kept OUT Ol Cnc sun iii transport
ing. and 'hcclcd-in" or buried and literally
watcrcd as soon as they arrive until ready
for planting. The planting cannot be done
too carefully. The hole should be large
enough to receive all the roots carefully
spread out, and the ground put about
them should be fine and rich. If the
roots are too big they should be somewhat
pruncd, and the branches of the tree Also
Sometimes the branches, where the roots
arc few and have been injured in taking
up, should be severely shortened to save |
the life of the tree.
IL Shouldn't Get Wet Again.