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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Pear

Pear Blight.-The only effectual way to control pear blight is by pruning. The spores of this disease gain entrance to the tree through its flowers. These are borne upon spurs.

If spurs are permitted to grow upon the trunk of the tree or any of its principal branches, and if they become diseased, the entire trunk or a b (a) Peach tree from the nursery; (b) peach tree pruned for orchard planting. (L. C. Corbett. ) a b C (a) The hawkbill knife; (b) device for cutting small limbs on tall trees; (c) double-edged curved-blade pruning saw. . (L. C. Corbett.) branch is infected and must be destroyed. Hence to control pear blight, all fruit spurs must be disbudded or rubbed from the main stems and branches. The flowers must be suffered to grow only upon the external branches of the These must then be closely observed.

The moment they are found to be incause it to cut deeply on the back fected they must be cut away and or downward stroke.

Pruning Pear Trees. - Form the heads of four or five main branches distributed about the stem at equal spaces and different heights.

Cut burnt. Thus the tree can be rid of blight without serious or permanent injury.

Pruning Peach Trees.-Buy yearling stock and reduce the young plant to a single whip or stem. Form the head at the end of the first year, from the shoots which develop along the body of the tree, by rubbing off the buds which are not desired.

Start three or four branches 18 or Sour cherry; good form. ( L. C. Corbett.) 20 inches from the ground. Cut them off to about 12 inches in length at the end of the first season's growth. Allow each to divide into three or four branches the next season and at the season's end cut these back to 12 inches in length and so continue. Defer pruning until all danger of freezing is past. Then gauge the amount of wood, if any, which has been winter killed. Prune so as to leave only outside buds and thus cause the tree to form a broad, round head.

Pruning Plum and Cherry Trees. -Prune the plum and cherry tree upon the same general principles as the preceding. But take special care to prevent limbs forming at the same level or with a close angle between them.

Such branches are almost sure to split off when loaded with fruit.

Rub off all shoots which spring from the roots or trunk of the tree and confine the flowering and fruit production to the other branches. The desired form for these two trees is shown in the illustrations.

Pruning the Grapevine. — There are various methods of pruning grapevines of which that known as the modified Kniffen system is here recommended. Plant the roots in rows and provide a trellis of two wires, one 6 feet above the ground, the other 18 or 20 inches lower.

Support the wires on any kind of post. But for a permanent vineyard use, preferably, posts of concrete or creosoted wood. Carry two main trunks from each root, one to the lower and the other to the upper wire.