Horticultural Observations

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 54, 6 March 1890, Page 6

Horticultural Observations

(From tho " New Zealand Farmer.'*

To tjik Editor.—l have for four years past devoted some time to tbe cultivation of the pear, which, it seems to me, is one of the most delicious and valuable fruits which the perseverance and ingenuity'of man have brought to perfection fcr us, and to which this climate, so far as my experience goes, seems fairly favourable. I have, thanks to Mr Mayo, of Drury (who appears to be aboub the only man in Australasia, with the exception of Mr J. C. Colo, of Melbourne, who has paid any intelligent attention to this Queen of the Orchard), obtained a collection of nearly 100 varieties, which the 20 years I spent in tho old country as an amateur pear grower, struggling with the very adverse climate of Norfolk, leads me to believe are the best of the best. I know very well thab most people will say, " Why do you want so many kinds ? a' dozen good ones are quite enough." Bub the pear, like some other charming creatures, is apt to be capricious, and a variety that thrives weil in a certain locality will noc succeed half-a-mile off, and if a fourth of the kinds 1 have planted do well, ifc is &s much as I expecb. All this preamble is to introduce an. incident I met with the other day among tho pear treos thab may be of interest and perhaps benefit to fruit-growers generally. I waa going my rounds among my young tress, destroying that filthy pest, bhe. leech, when I meb wibh an ally, something inthisshapeand size,

which appeared to take even more pleasure in the destruction of my enemy than I did myself, for it had its proboscis inserted in bhe soft body of tho leech, and was evidently sucking out its internal arrangements with greab gusto. The insect was of a rusty red colour wifch two irregular dingy white spots on each wing. I did nob disturb it in its very useful employment, but if you would like a specimen I shall hope to find another. It certainly ought to be propagated if possible. On the same tree (a Jargonelle) I found a singular double leaf, of which the annexed sketch will give a a pretty good idea.

Of course this.is a mere triviality, but may be interesting to botanists or ifc may be a fact of frequent occurrence, though I nover saw ifc before. While on singularities, I may mention that I have pear trees of the Winter Nelis variety affected slightly with American blight. Perhaps that is not unusual, and your readers may think I am good ab finding mares' nests.—Geo. A. Clark, Te Weranga, Rawene, Hokianga, sth February, 1890. [The twin leaf is nob an uncommon development, but tho woolly aphis is nob at all common on a pear tree, ab least so far as we are aware, although when we consider the family relationship of apple and pear the fact that the samo blight will attack both is not very surprising. We have heard of such eases before, bufc havo never seen an instance ourselves of a pear tree attacked by this aphis pest. Our correspondent's experience with regard to the insect destroyer of the pear leech is interesting and cheering to orchardisfcs who cultivate the pear, plum and cherry.—Ed. N.Z.P.]