Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-09-02
PEARS THRIVE
in THIS SECTION
Few Localities in the u. S. Where
Pear Growing is Really
Profitable.
FRUIT EQUAL TOANY FOR QUALITY
Fruit Raising Will Make the Koote6ai
Valley Famous. :

By Kootenai Valley is meant
not only the alluvial river bottom,
but the vast tracts of fertile hill
sides and level plateaus or so called
bench lands, which are drained by
the Kootenai River.
The alluvial bottom, where it is
not subject to inundation is good
land for pears, as has been demon
strated by few small orchards
scattered here and there through |
out the valley.
But many orchards upon the
foot hills and bench lands have
given even better results through
period of years, and have proven
that this is indeed favored locali-
ty for growing pears. The pear is
not nearly so general in its adap-
ton to all kinds of soil and climate
as the apple. Some varieties of the
latter will be found to thrive almost
anywhere from the Great Slave
Lakes of Canada to the Gulf of
Mexico. But not 80 with the pear.
In many localities where the apple
and other fruits do fairly we'll it is
almost impossible to raise pears
lproftably. Whether this is due to
soil or climate or both, / am not
prepared to say, but the fact re-
mains. There are comparatively
few localities in the United States
where growing pears is really pro-
fitable and the country tributary
to Boomers Ferry is one of those
favored sections. So far as have
observed, all varieties OF pearr,
which have been tried here have
ddone exceptionally well but especi-
ally some of the standard kinds,
such as Bartlett. Keifer, Idaho,
Flemish Beauty, Rossnev and Vicar
of Wakefield, the latter winter
pear.
My own experience has been
with the Bartlett, Rossney, Butter
and Nicar of Wakefield, and all o.
them have begun to bear little a.
four years after setting out (som'
even earier) gradually increasing
to full bearing at the age of II
years, and have never missed crop
OF course there may be year nov
and then when the crop may b.
light on theYicar of Wakefield an'
possibly the Rossney, but d.
rot recall lever having really poo
Weld from the Bartlett or Butter
and nearly every year it is necessar.
to thin them. This present year !
about as light a crop as | hav
ever had of these two varieties ant
this is due to the fact that it wa
rainy weather during nearly al
the time they were in bloom, thl
preventing perfect pollenizing G
the blossom.
The fruit is equal to any 70
quality and size, as has been de
monstrated by exhibits sent froE
here TO Standpoint, Spokane an
other places, where they receive
their full share of prizes. Bar
let's are, in my opinion. the stanC
ard and best variety to raise. 3
though they do not keep quite 6
long as some other early fall pear
but they are hard to excel for fave
and are always in demand. Bar
lett trees should average four boxs
per tree at the age of ten years,
properly cared for, and many wi
produce much more, and the tre
can be set at distance of 20 fe
apart, thus getting more trees sp
acre than apples, and while it
true, the fruit must be markets
quickly, it is usually possible
sell them at fair price, and wou
always he so In car lots.