Evening star., 1948-10-03

DR.. Hedrick, and the tree Is nearly
immune to the blight. Unfortunately
DR.. Hedrick speaks for the North
east and the value Of this variety
will need to be determined locally.
Another resistant variety that merits
local trials is the Elizabeth which
has the desirable quality and is q
vigorous, hardy tree.
Choice Is Very Limited.
The varieties suggested 80 far are
few in number, but the number rec
commended by the horticulturists is
even fewer-the Waites and the
Seckel. The Keiffer Is listed, too,
but we do not favor it.
One reason for discussing pears is
that they are the one fruit I'M
troubled by the Japanese beetle.
They are comparatively small trees
and fit into the smaller yards. Sew
eral varieties, including Seckel, are
available on dwarfing rootstocks.
1t should not be assumed that
because they are immune to the
beetle they need not be sprayed.
Pears do have insect and disease
problems which require spraying.
The program recommended by the
horticulturists Is not difficult to fol-
low and first-class fruit is obtainable
without undue effort.
The destructive fire blight, which
turns the foliage, twigs and fruit
black, as though scorched by fire.
is best avoided by planting resistant
varieties. Remove diseased parts by
pruning and burn the cuttings.
A second disease, pear-scab. is
relatively common and Is controlled
the same as apple-scab-a dormant
spraying with lime-sulphur and
three or four summer sprayings with
the same material but at summer
strength.
Five Common Insect Pests.
There are five rather common in
sect pests. The San Jose scale Is
no problem when dormant sprays
are applied annually. The codling
moth. psylla and pear-slug are con-
trolled with DDT added to the sum-
mer-strength lime-sulphur spray or
dust. The pear-mite is best con-
trolled by the dormant spray in the
late winter or early spring.
Pear trees will not tolerate sand.
gravel or light loans. but prefer
heavy loans, clays and silts. They
will do better than any other fruit
in Iwet soil, although they do best
in a deep. well-drained soil. The
pear is really quite finicky compared
to the peach and apple. The
Seckel and the Kieffer are more
tolerant than most other varieties
The pear requires full sun but seems
to thrive in cool. misty, cloudy
weather better than any other fruit
that is why they are so
widely grown in Northern Europe
Pears are not hardy enough for
the Northern States and only few
varieties can be grown in the deep
South.
Thus we may say that the Seckel
and the M. B. Waite are worth
planting in this area. The trees
are ornamental. their early flower
ing makes them as desirable and
snowy as any other tree or shrub.
They are not large growers and At
into the average-sized back yard.
Dwarf growing pear trees may be
used in the smallest yard.
Plant 20 Feet Apart.
Standard pear trees should be
planted about 20 feet apart, the
dwarfs need from 10 to Is feet
They need to be mulched or culti-
waited and fertilized for best growth.
Many pear trees require cross
fertilization, which means two or
more compatible varieties must be
planted to assure fruit production.
Fortunately the Seckel, the best of
the early immune varieties Is SELF
fertile and can be used where space
permits but one pear tree. It will
polleniZe other varieties.
Pears are harvested when the
green fruit, showing faint signs of
turning yellow. will separate from
the twig when tipped up. The green
fruits should be stored in . cool
room without bruising until mellow
For some varieties this takes only
a few days, others require several
weeks