A correspondent of the London Journal of Horticulture at-tributes the cracking of pears to want of moisture. He says: "A dry soil and hot sun combined, scorch, dry, harden the tender skin of the fruits: as soon as rain falls the fruit swells, and the dry skin splits in every direction. The rain only develops the mischief which the dry soil and sun have effected." This is but another item in favor of mulching, or a constant stirring of the soil, for the keeping up of a steady, even, moist, and cool condition of the soil.

Cracking Of Pears #1

The effects of lime, phosphate and potash, as indeed all mineral fertilisers, are always beneficial to trees, but it is a new idea to learn, as thus stated by a correspondent of The Gardener's Monthly, that potash and lime will cure cracking of pears. Pears do not crack when the soil is sufficiently supplied with lime and potash; and they crack most where those salts are deficient. Common wood ashes contain those salts, nearly in the quantity and proportions that pear trees on such soil require - forty per cent, of potash and thirty per cent. of lime. Reasoning from hese facts, I applied wood ashes at the rate of four hundred bushels to the acre, after the fruit had formed and cracked. Many of them healed up and made perfect fruit the same season, others not until the next season. A friend, at my suggestion, applied it heavily to a favorite Butter pear tree in his own garden for several years in succession, and has had for several years perfect and delicious pears, and I will guarantee it to cure any case, where the ashes are fairly and abundantly applied.

I was told by an experienced hand that I would kill the trees; but on the contrary, I cured them. Therefore, do not be afraid; if one application will not suffice, give them a larger dose next year.

A moist atmosphere undoubtedly encourages the growth of the tree and fruit, while the insufficiency of proper food prevents the perfection of either; hence, cracked fruit and "rough old bark."