St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-09-24
FRUIT RAISING IN ST. TAM
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ARBORrr HOMESTEAD, !
s,<HSzHear Covington, ras
IA 1.-THE PEAR. H.
u q A.,
greasiu etus has been W.
|toepear Oa0(dre in the South by the
introduction Of the LIE COnte aud
other Oriental and hybrid pears.
q Many trees have been planted in
this PARISH, mostly LIE Conte. and q
few Keilern Interested parties
hare deludsi- The -Psspse into the
belief that these varieties are .bso.
lutely blight proof. - f.
Blight is the chief enemy Of the
pear. and is the greatest obstacle to
overcome in the production Of Ibis
fruit. The LIE Conte IL not proof
against it. The pear has not yet
been discovered that IL. All pears
are liable to blight. Some varieties
are less subject to the disease than
Others. Some of the European va
rietics resist the malady equally as
well as the Oriental type. Most
of the European pears are superior
in quality, and many very musa SO.
They usually hear younger than the
lie Conte and others Of the Orient
ais, excepting the Kciffer, which
hears young, often at four years
after planting.
The intention is not to discour-
age tue planting Of LIE Conte pear
trees The reverse is the case. It
should be encouraged, and for
every tree that dies Of blight two
others should be planted to take its |
place, and 50 make sure Of having |
pears. in spite Of this malady. For
home use, however, it Is advisable |
to plant more than this or any one |
variety, In order to. have fruit |
throughout the season. |
The pine hills Of st. Tammapy,
and the highlands with clay sub
soil generally, are well adapted to |
the pear. Trees here will live as |
long and resist blight ~ we'll as
anywhere. II the production Of
pears is profitable elsewhere. it is
SO here, not only because
the trees thrive and bear we'll, but
also because they are ready to be
in advance Of fruit grown
further rthGwhen demand and
prices are good. es ,,fa1r 3
The pear requires about the same
cultivation as the apple, except that
Oriental varieties, as the lie Conte,
Keiffer. Smiths and CARRIERS, re-
luire much more cutting back the
Iirst three or four years than the
apple and European pears. 1t Is
we'll to push the growth Of the trees
the first'few years, by liberal treat
ment and good culture. After the
trees come into bearing, highly
stimulating manure should be APP
Piled. Ashes, either cotton seed
null or wool, and ground hone viii
give good results. These are high
priced. but their use Is profitable.
4 very small percentage Of the
|ruit will pay for liberal applica-
ions.
Plant in well-drained soil. Keep
he head in proper shape by prun-
ng during winter, except such
limbs as are making an excessive
growth, and threaten to outgr0w
'he others these should be pinched
back during the growing. season, Is
'Oon ~ discovered, and 80 kept in
:heck and in equal growth with the
'est Of the head. Nearly all Of the
rees here are too tall and pyra-
nidal. instead Of broad and spread
ng; this will be found inc0nveni.
mt when fruit is to be gathered.
Besides this, the fruit is liable to be
blown of and the trees damaged
~ wind storms, when loaded with |
'ruit. II > succession Is desired,
asting from June till Christmas, |
he following list will give satisiac-
lion: .--.-.s n,
"Summer Doycnne," a beautiful
mall round pear, color . fine ycl-
ow, with bright red cheek, good
lavor and melting; bears young I
'ipe early In June. 9n
"Ciapp's Favorite," large. good
quality, ripe in July. Should be
picked about ten days or two weeks
'efore fully ripe, and the ripeningI
process finished in the house. ,1
"Seckel." small, bat the hest na-
'ored of all pears, the standard Of
as free from blight rs
my pear. Ripens last Of July and
n August. -, :. y II
''Howell," rich, juicy, very good.
Ripe about with Seckel argOod
,rower and bears young 17@S 20 I,
Tl,. follnvim0 are NJ The Oriental