The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-27
PEAR CULTURE IN VERMONT.
Less Interest Shown in New Eng
land Than Half Century Ago.

/ land IMAM Half century Ago.
Pear growing in New England is
not receiving the attention today it
did quarter or even a half century
ago, says Prof. William Stuart, CT
the University of Vermont in the
New England Homestead. This ap-
parent lack of interest in one of the
most luscious of fruits is partially
due to the following factors; 1, to
greater losses from pear blight, fun
gous diseases and insect pests. @,
To the somewhat greater skill and
care required to grow the pear than
the apple. 3, To lower prices in the
larger markets, due to the invasion of
western grown pears, made possible
through improved transportation ia
cilities. 4, To the loss of such pear
enthusiasts as Wilder, Hovey, Man.
ming and others.
Notwithstanding the above more CT
less restrictive factors to pear grow
ing in New England, there is, never
theless, splendid opportunity today
to make the business a profitable
one The first consideration in plant
ing a pear orchard is the soil and
site. The pear succeeds best on q
fairly heavy, deep and well-drained
clay loan soil. This does not neces-
sarily mean, however, that they can"
not be grown proftably on any other
soil. Very light, sandy soils should
be avoided for all classes except
oriental varieties or hybrids of the
same. A northeastern or eastern
slope is preferable, but not absolute
ly essential. 1t should have suffi-
cient elevation over contiguous land
to afford good air drainage.
Preparation of the Soil.
Thoroughly prepare the soil for
the young trees. 1t is preferable, if
time permits, and it should, to plant
the land to some hoed crop, such as
corn, which can be MANFRED heavily
for the purpose. This puts the land
in good shape to receive the trees
either in the fall or ensuing spring
The land should be plowed some
what deeper for the corn than Gus
tomary, and still deeper in prepar-
ing it for setting trees. The trees
should be set about IS to 20 feet
apart each way for standards
and about IL feet apart foi
dwars. In setting the trees
care should be taken to have the
soil packed firmly around the roots
Furthermore, the surface soil shout
be packed in contact with the roots
The trees should be set 2 to inches
deeper than in the nursery row. Two
year-old trees should be selected.
Pruning the Pear Orchard.
The roots should be pruned baci
} to or inches in length, and the
tops correspondence shortened in,
} The tops of fall set trees should no
, receive this severe pruning unit
} spring In all cases the pruning o
the tops should be governed by the
J form of head or tree-top desired a
pear orchard should receive thorough
cultivation in the early part of tin;
season, followed by some cover crop
, For the first few years intercroppins
, may be practiced provided some hoe
. crop is planted and the land is lib
| orally fortified. Such crops Otter
more than repay cost of tillage of or
chard and rental on land.
In the selection of varieties for {
New England pear orchard one mus
/ keep in mind the fact that some vari
t cites are self-sterile, or partially SC
! hence it is necessary to select othe
/ varieties whose blossoming period i
: about the same in order to insur'
good fertilization, and consequently
good crop of fruit. For the mor'
favored sections of New England tn
! following varieties will, as rule
prove satisfactory: For early, Bart
lett, Clapp, Rostiezer, Summer boy
, enne and Tyson; midseason, Anjou
, Bose, Angouleme, Flemish Beauty
Louise Bonnie do Jersey, Seckel
Sheldon, Grand Isle and Virgalieu
, late, Winter Nelis, Hovey, Lawrence
Patrick Barry. For the northern POI
, lions, Bessemianka, Clifford Wilder
Malines, Vermont Beauty, Crane
Isle and Lawrence give fairly goo
satisfaction.
Harvesting the Crop.
The pear unlike most other fruits
must be picked when unripe If tbs
best development of that hardly de
Unable melting quality and flavor Of
the flesh so eagerly sought after BIS
the pear connoisseur is to be secured
A common and simple test of fitness
to pick consists in bending the fru,i
stem sidewise on the fruit spur; il
it parts readily or fairly so without
leaving a ragged surface it may u.s.
ually be considered ready to pick
To obtain the highest quality and
flavor in a pear it is highly essential
that it be picked before fully mature
Early varieties must be picked con-