North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[DocKW@aol.com]

My 2 cents on the Flemish Beauty.  I have a nice tree which looks 
healthy...my pears all tend to calcium deficiency symptoms which is a 
constant battle 
here in SW Connecticut  zone 5.   If I spray carefully for fungus I get nice 
pears (if the tree rats leave any)  but if I forget and they start to get 
black 
spots , I'm done for the season as they will progress on to splitting and w/ 
the 
tendency to cork spots due to calcium probs they will be ruined.  Not a good 
thing when you expect to eat something!!!!  The Gorham drops its leaves if 
the 
spray is stopped prematurely and this year the rain has not stopped!!!,,,,and 
then the fruit gets spots and splits and is ruined.
The Magness and Warren pears have the calcium problem, but do not drop leaves 
or fruit under the same conditions....and this year they looked to be ok w/ 
the calcium (used calcium nitrate 2 years).... and the tree rats took all but 
one....waiting on ripening.:)
I need another hobby....
no chestnuts this year either and plums have the worst black knot I've ever 
had...will need to nearly chop down the trees to renovate.
Karl Olson
(waiting for the hurricaine to pick my apples for me)