THE GROWTH AND HABITS OF PEARS. 



409 



the Twisters ! It will frequentl}-, when 

 young, have the appearance of hoops, by 

 the branches turning entirely round. There 

 is very little symmetry about trees of this 

 kind ; when growing, they will generally 

 extend themselves every way except up- 

 wards, and to get tolerable trees it is ne- 

 cessary to stake them, or graft them on 

 stocks three or four feet high. It is, never- 

 theless, a hardy, vigorous tree, and a great 

 bearer. As regards the qualities of this 

 fruit, there seems to be a difference of opi- 

 nion. I have eaten it, equal in flavor to 

 any variety that is cultivated. I have fre- 

 quently, again, tasted it and found it to be 

 worthless. The wood is of a gray appear- 

 ance, and the leaves have long footstalks. 

 It grows well on pear stocks, poorly on 

 quince, but makes very fine dwarfs on 

 thorn stocks. If worked low^ this is a va- 

 riety that suits the latter stock well. 



Winter Nelis is rather a slender, weak 

 grower when young, and generally at three 

 years will not be larger than other varie- 

 ties, of free growth, are at two. The branch- 

 es are pendulous, and the tree generally in- 

 clines a little to one side, with small, wiry 

 wood ; buds sharp pointed, and very promi- 

 nent, (and will sometimes break off when 

 budding, unless a little care is used ;) foli- 

 age rather small and delicate. With age, 

 this makes a good orchard tree, and is al- 

 lowed by most persons to be an excellent 

 winter pear ; it varies much, both in shape 

 and size. The tree grows best on the pear 

 stock ; but it will also make tolerable trees 

 on quince. 



Beurre (TAmalis grows very strong, with 

 large, round, heart-shaped leaves, and a 

 very loose irregular habit, spreading its 

 branches in every direction. The side 

 branches of young trees are generally more 

 or less twining -and drooping, although a 

 fine hardy orchard tree. The fruit will 



only be appreciated [rather say tolerated, 

 Ed.] by those who have not been in the 

 habit of eating the finer varieties of fruits. 

 The wood is of a rather dark olive colour. 

 The tree groAvs very strong, both on pear 

 and quince stocks. 



A variety of B. d'Amalis is cultivated 

 with striped bark and fruit ; habit, the same 

 as the other. 



Beurre Ranz, This variety seems to 

 have obtained a bad name, and, I think, 

 without having had a fair trial. The only 

 objections, however, I have heard is, it is 

 difficult to ripen. I am of opinion that this 

 will yet be a valuable pear for winter, 

 having only partially come into bearing 

 here as yet ; it has not had any pains be- 

 stowed on it. It has fruited with me two 

 years. The fruit resembles, more than any 

 other sort, that of the St. Germain. This 

 last year I had a few specimens ; and al- 

 though obliged to gather them nearly a 

 month before the proper season, I put away 

 in a dry place, and they were nevertheless 

 very melting and juicy, although considera- 

 bly shriveled. Dry sand or buckwheat 

 chaff, filled in through the boxes or barrels, 

 when putting up such fruit, will greatly 

 help late sorts of pears to ripen and prevent 

 shriveling. The growth of this sort is 

 pretty strong and twisting. Wood of a 

 gray colour, with numerous white dots. 

 The Beurre Eanz grows well on the pear, 

 poorly on the quince, but remarkably well 

 on the thorn. 



Beurre Busc. Growth not quite so strong 

 as that of some varieties ; but it is what 

 may be called a moderate grower, in the 

 young trees especially. When a year old, 

 the tops will frequently turn down ; as, 

 also, in two years old trees, the side branch- 

 es will twist more or less. Wood of a 

 light gray appearance. This sort makes 

 pretty good orchard trees, but loses much 



