On Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:46:23 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:

>On Mon, 08 Aug 2016 07:50:00 +1000, Jeßus > wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:34:26 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:
>>
>>>Jeßus wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I have some new pear varieties to replace some cherry trees I am
>>>>removing (too high maintenance). These ones are varieties specifically
>>>>for making perry (pear cider).
>>>
>>>I'd a thunk perry would be pear-cherry cider... fermenting a hard bosc
>>>pear and sour cherry mash would make a great perry wine.
>>
>>I'm sure that would be nice. So far I have only made a couple of
>>cherry meads and several bottles of whole cherries infused in 40%
>>ethanol.
>>
>>>I well
>>>understand what a PIA fruit trees can be, that's why I quit after two
>>>plum and two apple...
>>
>>I have 33 trees in my orchard. I was a little *too* keen and
>>enthusiastic when I first moved here. Not to worry, none of the fruit
>>will be wasted.
>>
>>>constant insect/fungus attacks, labor of
>>>pruning, and worst is bad luck with weather, so many times perfect
>>>blossoms, lots of bees, and then a ****ing frost and all the
>>>pollenated blossoms drop off before fruit sets...,
>>
>>I have already eliminated the peach and nectarines (it seems the
>>season is just too short here for them), same for apricots. The
>>cherries are next. Pears, apple and quinces go great here so that's
>>what I will stick to. Oh, plums and prunes do okay here too. Only real
>>pest problem I have is called 'pear and cherry slug' but that's easily
>>controlled with a safe bacterial spray.
>>
>>>lots of fruit
>>>orchards nearby but I think I'm at too high an elevation for fruit
>>>trees, I have great crops of crabapples but not eating apples. My
>>>flowering pear and crabapple trees do fantastically well, wonderful
>>>blossom displays... at least the critters get to enjoy those crops.
>>
>>My main problem here is (marsupial) possums. They are incredibly
>>destructive. I will be electrifying the fence before spring... that
>>should sort that problem out.
>
>Here the birds do the most foraging,,, crows are smart, also very
>strong and tenacious. I tried growing blueberries but the crows would
>be there before sun up taking the ripest. Netting didnt help, crows
>quickly figured out how to tear through nylon netting with their razor
>sharp beaks.

They're clever buggers all right, a friend grows raspberries and birds
are his number one problem. I don't seem to have much of a problem
here with birds, not with the apple and pears at least.