Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-26
A Cure for Pear blight.

best article that 1 have seen-con6rm-
ing my view as to its cause and pre-.
sentiBg the two most important ele-
ments Of success in pear culture. The
writer lost one thousand trees before
adopting this treatment, but none
since !" Whereas l lost about five
hundred. and then by accident discov-
cred the practical application Of those
principles of successful treatment,
which l have exhibited on 10th page
Of "Prairie Farmer" for 1880.
First.-"That they be not set in
too high ground.
Second.-''A wheelbarrow load Of
untermented mauure around each
tree in the fall.
More than twenty years ago | plant
ed several varieties of dwarf pear
trees in part of my struck patch, "
which was then occupied by nay apiar-
les, snd would not produc forty BUSH
elsof corn per acre without manure.
The contrast between these trees and
those subsequently planted 10 an old
garden where the soil had been annu-
ally MANFRED and cultivated for more
than century, exhibits TIE point at
issue. Again. the fate of i've hundred
trees planted in the above truck
patch" contiguous with the part devo
ted to apiaries is more remarkable.
The latter was never cultivated nor
MANFRED, whereas these-alternated
with struck" receiving annual cultiva-
ton: also ashes and other manure
was piled around them, nevertheless
they perished with blight and no va
riety seemed exempt, not even the
standard Seckel.
Among the apiaries, without ma
nure or cultivation, the trees fruited,
and l actually employed an expert to
assist me in determining the name of
q Dutchesse as its fruit did not excel
the common hedge pear much, either
in size or quality, and the tree was
covered with moss. This is now the
most perfect and prolific pear tree; it
has not only doubled its size, but the
fruit is large. luscious and remarkably
perfect, though it was transplanted
into the above garden in the midst OF
Duehesse trees which yelled no perfect
but blighted almost as badly as many
other varieties there, planted about
the same time directly from the muse
ry. II will be observed that this
most successful tree had fruited with
ont manure, en- soil which it had ex-
hausted.
The secret of the remarkable sues
cess, is in the fact that its exuberant
vitality had not been stimulated by
manure(as is usually the case Of plant
ing), nor even by a rich soil which
most persons imagine is necessary to
success. The act OF truiting expends
seven fold more vital force than the
most luxuriant growth, consequently
it is usually the signal for The attack
of blight: ifso, we should husband III
resources in this respect and rather
check than stimulate the tree unit
after it has fruited, whereas subse'
ouently it annually demands all of The
manure that can be piled around it:
stem, in order to slstain the high
breeding (Which is the characteristic
of all trees which produce choice
pears) moreover, without this it II
demonstrated that every variety sue
cumbs to the blight.
1t is upon precisely the same princi
pie that the expert dairyman insure'
a good COW from a highly bred heifer
whereas most others are disappointed
After developing those organs OF
points which are desirable by Der frs
calf, they are nourished by "gooc
food. for one year, before she is sub
;ected to another CESSATION. Instead
of making a harbor for mice AROUND
the stem of the tree by "a wheelbar
row of unfermented manure every tall,
would suggest half as much goo'
compost in the spring annually, base'
upon some ashes, or the black resi-
dunn ofprussiate of potash factOrie
which Gas refuse) costs 81 or S. pc
ton. and is worth that near the facto
nv, on account Of the phosphates alt
nitrogen, apart from the potash DC
which the manufactures Of Prussia
blue cannot afford 10 leach ont OF 1t.
The residuum Of the spent lIqnc
above referred to is corresponding
cheap. containing same manure'
bioblv concentrated called "white re;
iduum," but after many accurate eA
perimeuts on corn am tempted. to at
tribute It's wonderful success, to tn
salvation Of the corn from is pecui'
insect enemies, especially in baslr
and low ground.
D. SrEwATr, NJ, d.
PoRr PENs, DEL,
Continued neSt week.
-~A