22 



CULTURE OF THE PEAR ON THE QUINCE STOCK. 



Fig. 64. 



were topped last August will each put forth 

 three, four, or more shoots ; as soon as these 

 are four inches long they must be pinched off 

 to within three inches, all but the leading 

 shoot of each side brartch ; this must be left 

 on, to exhaust the tree of its superabun- 

 dant sap, till the end of August. The per- 

 pendicular leader must be topped once or 

 twice ; in short, as soon as it has grown 

 ten inches, pinch off its top, and if it 

 breaks into two or three shoots pinch them 

 all but the leader, as directed for the first 

 season ; in a few years most symmetrical 

 trees may be formed. 



When they have attained the height of 

 six or eight feet, and still continue to grow 

 vigorously, it will be necessary to com- 

 mence root pruning, to bring them into a 

 fruitful state. 



I have thus far given directions for those 

 who are inclined to rear their own pyra- 

 mids. Much time and attention are re- 

 quired ; but the interest attached to well 

 trained pyramids will amply repay the 

 young cultivator. 



I will now endeavor to give directions for 

 the management of trees adapted for the 

 gardener of mature age, who feels some- 

 what impatient if his trees do not begin at 

 once to be fruitful. A most valuable aux- 

 iliary to precocious fruitfulness in pears is 

 the quince stock ; pears grafted on it may 

 be safely recommended for all soils of 

 moderate depth and fertility, and even for 

 light and sandy soils I am induced to ad- 

 vise it, only in those circumstances the 

 trees must have more care and higher cul- 

 tivation. In soils of that nature I should 

 recommend the surface of the soil round 

 the tree to be covered during June, July, 

 and August with short grass, moss, or 

 manure, and to give them once a week, in 

 dry weather, a drenching with guano water, 

 (about two pounds to six gallons,) which 

 must be well stirred before it is used ; each 

 tree should have twelve gallons poured 

 gradually into the soil : by this method the 

 finest fruit may be produced ; and as it is 

 very probable that, ere many years elapse, 

 we shall have exhibitions of pears, this will 

 be the mode to procure fine specimens to 

 show for prizes. Our oldest gardening 

 authors have said that "pears engrafted 

 on the quince stock give the fairest fruit ;" 

 and they are correct. It has been asserted 

 that the fruit is liable to be gritty, and defi- 

 cient in flavor. I can only say that from 

 my trees, growing on a cold, clayey soil, I 

 have tasted fruit of Marie Louise, Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey, and others, all that could 

 be wished for in size and flavor. 



Pyramidal pear trees of from three to 

 five years old on the quince stock, root 



