1857. Dwarf Pears. 171 



instances I have gathered from the aforsaicl trees, "not five or six 

 beautiful pears," only, but from one bushel to one barrel per tree. 

 I do further aver, that these trees were originally upon the quince 

 stock — that some of them remain in that condition now, but that 

 most of them have rooted from the pear stock, and that Mr. Stoms 

 may believe that there is "some truth" in this statement, (for 

 " verily, we speak that we do know, aud testify that we have seen,") 

 I would really make oath to these facts, were it necessary to convince 

 him of my veracity. 



That there may be no misunderstanding of terms, let it be remem- 

 bered that when I speak of cZwar/pear trees, — a term which I did not 

 use in the quotation he has cited, — it is in contradistinction to those 

 which are on the pear root ; for we of Massachusetts do not allow 

 our pear trees, even those on the quince, to remain dwarfs or 

 " monkeys." No, no, Mr. Stoms ; we not only make our pear trees 

 grow, even on the quince, into beautiful, large pyramids, but we make 

 them bear five to seven years earlier on the quince than they would 

 on the pear stock. And, as to planting deeply, so as to allow the 

 pear stock to root, as many varieties will, it is no " new thing with 

 the intelligent Colonel," for he has always practiced this system, a 

 fact well known to his Ohio friends, and to every one who has visit- 

 ed his grounds. 



Mr. Stoms asks, " Why graft on the quince stock at all ? " 



Ansicer. To obtain " early fruiting," and the pleasure and profit 

 of regular crops, for many years, before the trees would produce 

 fruit on their own stock. 



Again he inquires, Will the pear, under the circumstances he 

 (Mr. Wilder) describes, (that is, rooting from the pear stock,) con- 

 tinue to be a " dwarf? " 



Answer. No; nor do we desire that it should ; for, having com- 

 menced fruiting and furnished itself with fruit-spurs, it will continue 

 to bear, whether on the pear or quince root, or on both ; and, as to 

 " longevity," it is generally admitted that the more roots a tree has, 

 the greater will be its strength, and the longer its duration of life. 



Hence we plant the tree deep enough to allow it to root from the 

 pear stock, and thus we keep the quince stock soft and emollient, 

 also, causing it to swell evenly with the pear, and to emit roots 

 throughout its stem, which it will do, if kept below the surface of 

 the soil. 



Mr. Stoms further says, " When the friends of Dwarf Pear cul- 



