FRUITS. 155 



though the fruit in quality would hardly come up to the Shel- 

 don, still it is good, large and fair, and very profitable for the 

 market. But this report will hardly permit of a description 

 of the Vicar, Beurre Bosc, one of the best, but a poor grower, 

 Belle Lucrative, Howell, Seckel, Onondaga, Clapp's Favorite, 

 Urbaniste (a splendid pear, but tardy bearer), Merriam, Ros- 

 tiezer, Tyson, Bloodgood and Doyenne d^Ete (these last 

 sparingly for profit), and the Buffum for sandy ground where 

 others will not succeed. These are all tried varieties, and no 

 one will go very far astray in planting any of them ; but the 

 danger is in getting too many rather than too few kinds, and 

 we should rather confine ourselves, however extensive our or- 

 chard, to about half a dozen varieties. 



Dwarf-Pears, or those budded on the quince stock, (and it 

 should always be some strong-growing variety, as the Angers 

 or Paris,) should always be grown in the pyramidal or bush 

 form, and should branch within one or two feet of the ground. 

 It is well to plant close, and not allow them to attain a large 

 si2:e. In selecting dwarf-trees, choose those that were budded 

 near the ground, and do not plant them too deep, just cover 

 the bud and no more. We are aware that many successful 

 fruit-growers recommend covering the bud five or six inches 

 in planting, but it is not our practice. If the roots grow very 

 deep in the nursery, cut off a portion of the bottom in replant- 

 ing, as no tree will flourish for any length of time with the 

 roots deep in the wet, cold soil. The roots of all trees need 

 the heat of the sun, especially for perfecting the fruit. The 

 great advantages of dwarf-pears are the comparative earliness 

 with which they come into bearing, the small space they oc- 

 cupy and the improvement in the quality of the fruit. This 

 last perhaps would only apply to certain varieties. But few 

 kinds succeed well on the quince, and only those should be 

 selected. The quince-roots are tender and should be covered 

 every fall ; many dwarfs were killed last winter which a good 

 mulch around the roots would have saved. After they are 

 large enough to bear, a wheelbarrow-load or two of manure in 

 autumn is a good protection, being careful that it does not 

 afford a harbor for the mice. Do not let dwarf-trees over- 

 bear ; very little fruit should be allowed to remain on for the 

 first few years, and it is always well to thin out at least one- 



