Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-05-06

themselves well or true to variety
when grown from seed; hence the ne
cessity for budding or grating in or
der to obtain the variety desired. But
if seedlings are desired good pear seeds
germinate readily when saved from
healthy, we'll matured fruit
The seeds should be stratified-i. e.,
mixed in alternate layers of moist sand
in a box-covered securely to guard
against rats and mice, and the box
should be placed on the north side of
some building where it will be exposed
to freezing and thawing throughout
the winter until the time for planting.
If the seeds are planted in rows three
feet apart in good soil and given thor
ough culture they will make a suffi-
cient growth In one season for budding
or grating, If wanted for root graft
ing the seedlings should be taken up
in the fall and stored in cellar, where
they will keep fresh and be accessible
at any time during the winter. II
wanted for budding they may be bur-
led in the soil outside until the time of
planting in the spring.
Directions for budding, grating etc,
require extended space, which cannot
be given here. They can be obtained
from agricultural experiment stations
and from experienced pear growers
Most Desirable Soil.
The pear succeeds on Il variety of
soils For standards a clay loan hav-
ing deep. porous subsoil, such as may
be found in forest clearings. into
which the roots will naturally pene-
trate, is most desirable. A clay loan
may be brought to the desired state of
tilth by good system Of mulching
and green manuring. and trees planted
in il find the available plant food so
necessary to maintain IA healthful
growth Dwarfs worked on the ounce
naturally develop II fbrous root sys-
TEN which develops best in rich.
moist soil having = subsoil Of porous
clay. II IS essential TO the health Of
the pear that no surplus or stagnant
water be allowed to remain on the sur
face or in the soil.
The use of fertilizers in pear culture
requires most careful consideration
and judgment. Lands naturally fertile
viz. loamy soils so common in prairie
regions, cleared forest lands and clay
ey soils having mari in their compost
tion-should not be enriched. Tillable
lands that will grow a good crop Of
corn are sufficiently fertile for the pear
tree When the pear orchard begins to
lose its vigor from continuous fruit
crops a light dressing OF wood ashes or
we'll rotted stable manure may prove
beneficial. As long as the trees main
tain a normal, healthy growth they re-
qulre no stimulating food Trees that
are highly stimulated and are making a
rapid growth are much more liable to
be attacked by blight. which is the
greatest drawback TO pear culture.
Use Of Commercial Fertilizer.
A commercial fertilizer containing
IL to ? per cent Of nitrogen. to .
per cent Of available phosphoric acid
and 10 TO u per cent Of potash will
give good results on land that is def
cient In these elements when applied
in quantity ranging from 400 TO COO
pounds per acre.
For sections south Of about the for
ty-drst parallel Of latitude the fall is
undoubtedly the best season for plant
ing. but for most Of the territory north
OF this line spring planting is safer.
IL is as important with the pear as
with any other kind Of fruit tree that
the land. whether for standards or
dwarfs. be well and thoroughly pre-
pared by plowing and stirring the soil
and subsoll deeply before planting.
The preparation can best be done in
the fall. as the effect OF freezing and
thawing the ground through the win
ter improves the soil by pulverizing H.
An excellent plan Is to piow the
ground in lands in the direction that
will afford the best drainage. back
furr0wing with a heavy plOw and
leaving the dead furrOws where the
rows Of trees are % be set 10 Is well
to break Up the bottom Of this dead
furrow By running a subson piow