Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-11

aHe ntgtiF Stihautnteu ana ufN making
rapid growth are mach more lianic TO
be attacked By blight which 70 the
greatest drawback to pear culture
usa Of Commercial Fertilizer.
A commercial fertilizer containing
iis to > per cent of nitrogen, 20 .
/ per cent OF available phosphoric acid
! and 10 to Y per cent OF potash will
give good results on lard TINT Is def
I Client in these elements when applied
! ID quantity ranging from 400 to 900
! pounds per acre,
For sections south OF about the for
ty.tlSst parallel OF latitude the fall IS
undoubtedly the best season for plant.
ing. but Tor most of the territory north
Of this line spring planting Is safer
II is ms important With the pear as
I with any other Kind OF fruit tree that
Z the land, whether for standards or
dwarfs. be wen and thoroughly pre-
Z pared hy blowing and stirring the soil
/ and subsoiI deeply before planting
/ The preparation can best be done In
! the fall. as the effect OF freezing and
thawing the ground through the win.
I ter improves the soil by pulverixine II.
An excellent plan Is TO pillow the
ground ln lands IN the direction TINT
I will afford the best drainage. back.
furrowing with heavy plow and
leaving the dead burrows where the
rows OF trees are TO he set II Ii well
TO break up the bottom OF this dead
J furrow by running a subsoil piow
through II two or three times. giving
/ 1t good stirring
A good distance for planting stand
\ ard pear trees is IS by 30 feet that Is.
[ the rows are thirty feet apart and the
trees fifteen feet apart IN the rows
Another plan is 10 plant the trees
I twenty feet apart each way. This dis
I lance will afford free circulation OF
air and abundance of sunlight. both Of
which are essential TO success
Dwarfs are sometimes planted ten
feet apart eacb way. but fifteen feet
I each way. or lob trees to the acre. Is
/ better. This distance gives room to
drive through the grounds for spray
ing and to gather the fruit.
One Year Trees Best.
+ Strong. well rooted ne,year-oid trees
are preferable 10 Any other age. whetli-
/ or standard or dwarf IL early fruit
I funess Is desired iwarfs are prefer
able, but II should be borne in mind
that such trees are usually shorter
4 lived and seldom attain large size For
these reasons they are better adapted
TO small lots or to garden purposes
On the other hand. II longevity of
tree. larger Size and capacity for pro.
dncing heavier crops are desired stand.
ards should be planted
Pears vary IN their season Of ripcn.
Ing. so that II proper attention II given
10 the selection Of varieties and 10 care.
ful handling aud storing the pear
grower may have fruit for his table or
market from midsummer until Mnrcii
Some varieties OF pear are iuferiile
4 by themselves. and therefore varieties
should be interningled In pianting III
order 10 insure fruitfulness. No more
than two rows OF one variety should be
I planted together. alternating with some
other variety that Ii considered u good
lpolllnizer. II may be said, however.
that self fertile varieties ander some
conditions may become self storile :.n
der other eondiimps
Thorough and frequent stirring OF
The ground between the rows with a
cultiyator should be done during the
enriy Part OF the growing season OF
from early spring until July !. when
CIVILIZATIONS should cease SO that the
new growtl, Of wood may harden up
sufficiently to endure the winter tenn
pcraturc.
After the trees have attained suiii
Client size aud age 10 commence fruit
Ing cultivation may be discontinued
for awhile and the land seeded TO elo-
yer This cover crop viii check the
rapid growth Of the trees and bring
them into bearing sooner than II cult
vation Is continued IL the clover Is
allowed to fall on the ground instead
OF cutting and removing Il. Ii will act
MS mulch aud serve to retain tnois-
tnre IN summer and be protection IN
winter.
Crops Among the Trees.
rf desirable to grow other crops be-
tween the rows of trees MS q matter OF
economy this may be done for a few
Years after being set out without any
dctriment to the orchnrd. provided the
crop Is Of such uaturc MS to require
thorough cultivation TO grow among
the trees the tirst season after plant (
ing there is no better crop than corn,
Other crops. such as potatoes. cab (
bages. peas, leans, MELONS. etc. may /
be grown 10 advantage. Small grain I
Dr. CRUISES which do not require cuiti. 4
walton should not he allowed in the (
newly planted orchard All these crops
take from The soil plant food which +
win be needed in tiuie for the or (
ehard's support and which should be \
returned IN some form OF manure
Cover crops. By conserving moisture
and adding elements Of fertility to the
soil. are beneficial 90 the pear orchard. (