THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 21 



The first step is to prepare the soil ; and this part of the subject 

 may be dismissed very briefly, for the pear-tree will do exceedingly 

 well in any well-drained loam, provided it is previously turned up to 

 a depth of eighteen inches. Good crops may also be obtained from 

 trees planted in a light soil, but the fruit will not be so large in size 

 nor of such good quality as that obtained from trees planted in more 

 congenial soils. Light soils may be improved very materially by 

 the addition of a lit^ie strong loam or pulverized clay ; but it may 

 be safely said that there are few soils in which good crops cannot 

 be obtained without expensive preparation. 



AVhen the trees are planted in quarters, it will be necessary to 

 trench them to the depth mentioned above ; but in cases where they 

 are to be planted widely apart, as, for example, by the side of walks, 

 it will suffice if a circular space, three or four feet in diameter, is 

 turned up. In planting the trees, care should be taken to spread 

 the roots out regularly about six or nine inches below the general 

 level, according to the size of the trees planted, to spread a liberal 

 quantity of well-pulverized soil from the surrounding surface over 

 the roots, and to tread the soil very firm. AVheu this is completed, 

 put stout stakes to the trees, to keep them in their proper places. 



The best form of tree for the villa garden is the pyramidal ; 

 and in certain cases espaliers are useful, especially where a line of 

 fruit-trees is required by the side of the walks, for shutting out the 

 vegetable crops from view. If it is desired to keep the trees to a 

 small size, say to a height of three or four feet, those budded or 

 grafted upon the quince stock will be the most suitable, and they 

 will come into bearing very early. But they are not, comparatively 

 speaking, profitable ; and are quite unsuitable on naturally dry and 

 light soils. The most profitable trees are those upon the pear-stock, 

 and which are allowed to attain a height of eigbt or ten ieet : for 

 from these trees we may reasonably expect to obtain a crop worth 

 the gathering. And it may be observed in connection with this 

 branch of the subject, that to have fruit, the trees must be able to 

 make free growth. A gross luxuriance is of course not desirable ; 

 and should the trees be growing too vigorously, they can be checked 

 by pruning the roots. 



Pyramidal trees by the side of walks will have sufficient space if 

 planted eight feet apart ; and those in quarters should be ten feet 

 apart one way, and eight feet the other. 



The fan-trained trees are the best for espaliers, and should be 

 planted about ten or twelve feet apart, and trained in a similar 

 manner to the trees against walls. 



With reference to the after management of the trees, it may be 

 taken for granted they do not require one half of the stopping and 

 pruning usually recommended. In fact, the only summer pinching 

 required is stopping the young shoots at about six inches from the base 

 of each, either in the last week of July, or the first or second week 

 in August. If stopped before the period here mentioned, the trees 

 will make a second growth, and produce a mass of useless spray 

 instead of fiower-buds. On the other hand, the stopping must not 

 be done later, as there will not be sufficient time left for the for- 



January. 



