Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1868 — THE CULTIVATION OF PEARS. [ARTICLE]

THE CULTIVATION OF PEARS.

[For the Union.)

Is it hot strange that there is so little attention paid to the cultivation of pears, in our community? More especially does it seem strange when the profit over and above all expense ofplanting and cultivation will exceed the profit on apples two or three hundred, per cent. A goodly portion of our soil is admirably adapted to the growth and perfection of this fruit. Indeed from my own limited experiene, I can testify that a crop of ffears is more, certain than a crop of apples, and when raided will cpiiffnand in this market from two and a half to three dollars a bushel, and in tlreChicago market from eight to ten dollars per barrel. Many persons are deterred from planting pear trees, because they. say, it takes an ordinary life-time for them to begin to bear. This is a mistake. There are several kinds that will l>ear in three or four years from the bud, and some even in less time. I have had pear trees to fruit in 'two years from budding, and it is frequently the case that the variety called Bartlett will yield fruit in three years. The same may be said of the Duchess D’Angouleiue and Louise Bon D’Jersey. The past has been a bad apple year, yet on the farm of Dr. Martin near town, all three of the above named pear trees yielded a fair crop of delicious fruit, and there has been but one season during the last five, that a fair crop was not obtained. So for as my expricnce -goes in pear culture in. this county,-1 am induced to believe, that the Bartlett, Duchess, Louise Bon D’Jerscy, Osgood, Summer and Flemish Beauty will succeed best here. |3tbis fruit is deserving of large planting, both for profit and its '■•ueatlifulness. If our people would cultivate more pears and grapes, And use them for dessert at dinner instead fcßOftfog pudding there