CULTURE OF THE PEAR ON THE QUINCE STOCK. 



27 



fruit is gathered, if the soil be sufficiently 

 moist ; if not, it will be better to wait till 

 the usual autumnal rains have fallen ; the 

 roots carefully examined, those inclined 

 to perpendicular growth cut with the spade, 

 which must be introduced quite under the 

 tree to meet on all sides, so that no root can 

 possibly escape amputation, and all the 

 horizontal roots, except those that are very 

 small and, fibrous shortened with the knife 

 to within a circle of eighteen inches from 

 the stem,* and all brought as near to the 

 surface as possible, filling in the trench 

 with compost for the roots to rest on ; the 

 trench may then be filled with the com- 

 post ; well rotted dung and the mould from 

 an old hot-bed, equal parts, will answer 

 exceedingly well ; the surface should then 

 be covered with some half rotted dung, and 

 the roots left till the following autumn 

 brings its annual care. It may be found 

 that after a few years of root pruning, the 

 circumferential mass of fibres will have 

 become too much matted, and that some of 

 the roots are bare of fibres towards the 

 stem of the tree; in such cases, thin out 

 some of the roots, shortening them at nine 

 inches or one foot from the stem, this will 

 cause them to give out fibres, so that the 

 entire circle of three feet or more round 

 the tree is full of fibrous roots near the sur- 

 face, waiting with open mouths for the 

 nourishment annually given to them by 

 surface dressings and liquid manure. 



Thus far for the gardener who does not 

 mind extra trouble, who, in short, feels real 

 pleasure in every operation that tends to 

 attain his end; but it is not every amateur 

 gardener that can do this, nor is it always 

 required, except for small gardens and in 

 rich moist soils, but with our too often cool 

 moist summers in the northern counties, 



* If they have not spread to this extent the first season, or 

 even the second, they need not be pruned, but merely 

 brought to the surface and spread out. 



annual root pruning is quite necessary to 

 make the trees produce well ripened wood; 

 in other cases, as I have before observed, 

 shortening the shoots in summer, taking 

 care to produce a handsome pyramidal 

 form, and if they are inclined to grow vigor- 

 ously, occasional (say biennial or triennial) 

 root pruning with the spade will be quite 

 sufficient. 



I may now be permitted to point out se- 

 lections of pears for different situations, and 

 commence with those adapted for pyramidal 

 trees on quince stocks. These may be 

 planted in rows, five to six feet apart, or a 

 square may be allotted to them, giving 

 each plant five to six feet, which will be 

 found amply sufficient for root pruned 

 trees. Some few esteemed sorts of pears 

 do not grow well on quince stocks, unless 

 "double-worked," i. e., some free growing 

 sorts are budded on the quince, and after 

 having been suffered to grow for one or two 

 seasons, those not so free growing are bud- 

 ded on them. For twelve varieties as py- 

 ramidal pears on the quince stock, placed 

 in the order of their ripening, the under- 

 mentioned may with safety be recommend- 

 ed* (in the followim: lists, varieties marked 

 thus X, may be chosen by those who re- 

 quire only a few trees.) 



1. Doyenne d'Ete, July 



2. Jagonelle X, August 



3. Bon Chretien, (Williams',) ... . September 



4. Beurre d'Amalis X, «. September 



5 Van Mons Leon le Clerc, 6 October 



6. Louise Bonne of Jersey X, m. if e. October 



7. Beurre Diet, November 



8. Glout Morceau December 



9 Passe Colmar X c. December 



10. Orpheline d'Enghein X, January and Feb. 



11. .Ic.si'phine de Malines, March 



12. Susette de Bavay X, April and May 



For twenty-four, add — 



13 Citron desCarmes, e. July 



14. Beurre Giffart, August 



15. Beurre Andusson, September 



16. Doyenne White, b. October 



17. Doyenne f iris «. October 



IS Duchess d'Angouleme, b. November 



19. Urbaniste, e. Novrmber 



20. Winter Nelis, December 



21. Beurre Langelier, January 



* All the varieties recommended for pyramids, may also 

 be plauted as Espaliers to train to rails in the usual mode. 



