Pear culture. A manual for the propagation, planting, cultivation, and management of the pear tree

Front matter

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f

Preface

The pleasure with which I have, for several years, pursued the labor of collecting and arranging the matter of this Book, melts away, as I approach the tribunal which is to pronounce upon the result of that labor. The Public which an author fears most is, after all, very small — it is those of his own craft, who will easily discover his failure ; and it is precisely that small Public whose favor I am most anxious to deserve. Cardinal De Retz once said : " He who is in good repute among his own order, can not easily be overthrown."

It is from intelligent Pomolo<nsts that I shall receive censure with the most humility, and praise with the most gratification ; and it was in hope of earning the latter that I have begun and completed this work.

There is so little that is really original in any work, that the unguarded and jealous critic, in reviewing some humble author, is in hmninent danger of launching his bolt at some great and standard authority. When charged, by a critic of such rank, with imperfections, I shall only be able to answer : " Sir, the best Pomologists have contributed the most perfect results of their investigations to this work ; and the insensible plagiarism, by which another's idea is reproduced in my brain, ought not to create prejudice against the idea." So much of what is excellent in this work may, by long residence in my own brain, seem to have had its origin there, that it would

VI PREFACE.

be vain to attempt, at this late hour, a restitution of ideas to the proper owners. When known or recollected, the authority whose matter has been quoted is noticed in the body of the work.

It requires to be distinctly stated, that the plan of this book does not admit of that extensive description of varieties which would be desired by an amateur of long experience in the cultivation of the Pear. Its design is to answer, in a clear and intelligible manner, the oftrepeated questions of the novice : " What kinds of Pear Trees can I plant most profitably ? — and how shall I treat them, to insure a return of the investment ?"

The Author has indulged no higher ambition than to answer these queries satisfactorily — and does not claim the ability to instruct those experienced Pomologists, whose lives have been spent in patient investigation of the most minute phenomena attending the Propagation, the Development, and the Fruiting of the Pear Tree.

In constant communication with Horticulturists, the want of a Manual of Pear Culture, so often suggested by them, originated in my mind the idea of collating the experience of the best cultivators ; and stimulated by my own hearty love of the subject, I have executed the work now offered to the lovers of that noble fruit.

If it shall result in a more intelligent treatment of the beautiful but dumb companions of the Horticulturist, and thus obviate much of that disappointment which has flowed from ignorance of the peculiar requirements of the Pear Tree, and of the varieties to be selected, the Book will have performed the office for which it was written ; and the Author will not regret his work.

Part I

Preparation of the Soil — Draining — Plowing and Cropping the Ground — Trenching — Manuring — Digging Holes — Digging Trees — Soils for Pears — Transporting.

Part II

The Seedling — Planting Seed — Obtaining new Seedling Varieties — Hybridizing — Leaf Blight of Seedlings — Propagation by Layers and Cuttings — Quince Stocks — Cost of preparing Ground and Planting — Manures for Nursery Stocks — Methods of Grafting — Budding.

Part III

Selecting Pear Trees from Nursery — Causes of the Failure of Nursery Trees — Proper Age for Planting — Pruning and Root Pruning before Planting — Replanting the Pear to form Fibrous Roots — Heeling in — Treatment of Withered Trees — Planting — Plan of arranging Pear Grounds — Cultivation of the Pear Orchard — Mulching — Special Manures for the Pear — Invigorating Old Trees — Grating Large Trees.

Part IV

Office of the Quince-stock — Causes of the failure of the Pear on the Quince — Advantage of the Quince Stock— Rules for Growing the Pear on Quince — Double Working.

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Part V

Pruning. — Advantages of Pyramidal Shape — Approach Grafting — Pruning to a Bud — Renewing the Wood of old Dwarfs — Summer Pinching — Fruit Spurs, and Treatment — Forms of Training — Rules for Pruning — Root Pruning.

Part VI

Diseases op the Pear. — Winter or Frozen-Sap Blight — Signs of the Disease — Insect-Blight — Leaf-Blight.

Part VII

Insects Injurious to the Pear. — Scolytus pyri — Scale Insect — The Pear Slug — Caterpillar, Canker, Worm, &c. — Means of destroying.

Part VIII

Varieties. — Conditions which affect the Quality of Fruit — Terma relating to Quality — Qualities required for Market Cultivation — Varieties for Market Cultivation to be grown on Pear Stocks — Varieties that may be grown on the Quince.

Part IX

Gathering, Marketing, and Fruit-Rooms. — Soils as affecting Quality of Pears — Thinning Fruit — Gathering — Marketing Pears — Coloring and Ripening of Summer and Autumn Pears — Ripening of Winter p ears — Fruit Rooms — Mr. Schooley's Plan of Fruit-Room — Catalogue of Native Varieties — Catalogue of Foreign Varieties and Synonyms.

PEAR CULTURE.