33 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



DESSEET PEAES. 



BY THOMAS TEXTSSLEK, 



Head Gardener, High Leigh, Hoddesdon, Herts. 



^LTHOUGrH the Pear is unquestionably the most valua- 

 ble of hardy dessert fruits, it must be admitted it is 

 not appreciated to the extent it should be, and also 

 that, so far as the majority of small gardens are con- 

 cerned, its cultivation is at present imperfectly under- 

 stood. The pear surpasses the peach and nectarine in usefulness, 

 and the plum and apple in flavour; yet, in many gardens, all these 

 fruits, at planting-time, are considered of the most importance. 

 Consequently, the walls are planted with the two first-named, and 

 the available space in the open quarters with the latter and the 

 ordinary bush-fruits before the pears are thought about. There are 

 many gardens in which they are considered of the first importance, 

 and I am happy to say that the number of these gardens is rapidly 

 increasing; for, by planting a judicious selection of sorts, the table 

 may be supplied with ripe fruit from July until the following May. 

 The value of the pear does not, however, consist in the length of 

 time it may be had in season, for it is especially valuable for the 

 delicious and wholesome character of its fruit, and the extreme 

 facility with which good crops can be produced in ordinary soils and 

 situations, without the assistance of a single foot of wall. There 

 are numerous varieties, the fruit of which is improved when the 

 trees are trained to a wall having a favourable aspect. Still, we 

 can select from the immense number of varieties at present procur- 

 able in this country more than sufficient for any one garden, that do 

 well in the open quarters. Wherever the proper means exist for 

 fruit-culture, all classes should be fairly represented ; but it may 

 safely be said that the pear should be planted more extensively, and 

 held in higher regard, than it hitherto has been. 



Best Eokm or Teees. — It would serve no useful purpose to say 

 anything about either budding or grafting, because so few amateurs, 

 for reasons sufficiently obvious as to require no explanation, would be 

 able to act upon the suggestions which it would be necessary to 

 offer. Therefore, we will say nothing about propagation, but pro- 

 ceed at once to the consideration of the best forms of trees to plant 

 in the majority of gardens. For planting in the open quarters, we 

 have standards, pyramids, espaliers, bushes, and cordons. Without 

 beating about the bush, I will at once express my preference for 

 pyramids and espaliers ; the latter for planting by the sides of walks 

 where the garden is very small, and the former for gardens that 

 afford sufficient space to plant trees of larger size. Standards are 

 too large excepting for the orchard, and bushes and cordons are too 

 small to be profitable anywhere, considering the amount of labour 

 requisite to keep them in order. Pyramids take up less room in 

 proportion to their fruit-bearing capabilities than any other form ; 

 and as, excepting a stout stake to the main stem when first planted, 



