Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27
Pears for Profit.
.T.r. Quinn in New York Tribune.I


When swamp-land has been thoroughly
drained, worked and MANFRED sufficiently
to make 1t pay for market gardening,
there is no doubt that dwarf pears will
grow freely and thrive for time on such
a soil but it should be constantly kept
in mind and practically carried out, that
the soil must be kept free from staSnant
water and in good heart 1t is also nee
essary that the trees be planted with care
and judiciously pruncd at the time of
planting. If 1t were question between
upland and woll-draiued swamp-land, the
practical pear-grower would always
choose the upland situation, other condi-
tons being equal. There is always more
or less danger of getting late succulent
growth OF young wood on swamp-land
that is rich and moist, especially when
the soil is fertilized with unfermented
manurcs. Besides, there is something to
be feared from late frosts while the trees
are in blossom, on such low, damp places.
But these drawbacks are not formidable
enough to prohibit planting pears with
fair prospects of profit provided good
selection of trees and varieties is made.
This brings us to the most important
consideration i'll laying plans for planting
Il pear orchard-the choice between
dwarfs or standards. 70 treat this ques-
intcllgently it will be necessary to refer
briefly to the history Of pear culture in
this country. A quarter of a century
ago the opinions which found their way
into print on this subject, in nine cases
out of ten emanated from nurserymen,
and the exceptions to this rule came from
those who took their keynote from the
same source. Now every practical man
knows that it is much easier and very
much cheaper to grow drafts i'll the nur-
sory than it is standards. This uniform
and rapid growth OF dwarfs in the nur-
sery, putting aside the larger profits, led
nurserymen to advocate the planting OF
dwarfs in preference to standards for or
chard purposes, and, ms a consequence,
dwarf pears We're planted extensively in
every section of the country, on the rec
concentrations from the sources named
As matter of course, time and practical
experience were essential elements to test
this important question.
| was one of the thousands who were
led to plant dwarfs on an extended scale
and now. with an experience of twenty
five years in growing pears for profit, ant
having during that time an unusual op
portunity for observation, both in thu
country and Europe, can speak will
some authority on this subject. To b
bnief in summing the case, | would sim
ply state that if | We're about to plant
pear orchard now, and could get dwar
trees for nothing, and | was compelled t.
pay $500 thousand for standards,
would not hesitate n moment i'll making
the selection of standards. The tempt
ing theory that dwarfs will bear fruit in
couple of years from the time of planting
is dangerous and bad theory to prac
tice. A pear tree should not be allowe'
to bear any fruit until it is five or 81
years in place, and in closing this brie
article will say that one healthy stand
ard pear at twelve years of age is worth
dozen of dwarf trees kept as dwarfs a
the same age.