658 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Nov., 1919. 



PEAR GROWING IN VICTORIA. 



(Continued from page 595.) 



Bi/ E. Wallis, Orchard Supervisor. 



RAISING YOUNG PEAR TREES. 



In the propagation of young pear trees, certain precautions are 

 required, and if these be not observed the trees, in after years, will fail to 

 give the best results. It is essential that the intending planter should, 

 where ]>ossible, see that his young trees have been properly worked, so 

 that when they arrive at a bearing age they may not be handicapped' in 

 their career. 



In the past, the matter of parentage, both of the stock and the scion, 

 has in many cases not received proper attention with a view to profitable 

 pear growing; in fact, to the average planter, it has been a matter of 

 indifference. Such apathy has probably been due in a great measure to 

 ignorance of the importance of this aspect of propagation and its effect 

 upon the future of the trees. 



It is difficult to understand this neglect, for the principle involved — 

 selection — has long been practically recognised, with splendid results, in 

 the raising of both flowers and vegetables. But with the propagation of 

 young pear trees, and, in fact, fruit trees generally, the matter of 

 selection has been confined chiefly to the choice of varieties, no systematic 

 attention being given to the character of the trees from which buds and 

 grafts have been taken. 



No one who has studied the question, and taken established trees as 

 a guide, has any doubt as to the direct effect of selection of buds or 

 grafts from trees of good bearing habit upon the career of fruit trees; 

 and it is certain that much of the barrenness of pear trees, so often 

 found in orchards, is due to their having been worked upon unsuitable 

 stocks, or with buds or grafts taken from trees of unfruitful habit. 



The Stock. 



The stock has a direct effect upon the scion. In the case of the pear 

 worked on the quince stock, the resultant tree is considerably dwarfed; 

 whilst if the reverse plan be adopted of working the quince on the pear, 

 the growth is increased. This bears out the rule that '' like produces 

 like," which is further evidenced where the pear sucker is used as a 

 stock. Fonnerly, it was a common practice with propagators to work 

 the pear on pear suckers, and even at the present time it is not 

 totally unknown, owing, no doubt, to such stocks being so easilj 

 obtainable. Most of our nurserymen, however, having in mind the 

 future welfare of the trees, have discontinued the practice. When 

 this stock is used it will be found tliat after the tree is established 

 the suckering habit becomes very pronounced, the entire surface of 

 ground planted Avith such trees often becoming covered with sucker 

 growths from roots interfered with during the ploughing operations. 

 This suckering is not only detrinu^ntal from a cultural stand-point, but. 

 worse still, is distinctly harmful to the bearing habit of the aifeeted 

 trees, notwithstanding the attention which may be given by scientific 

 pruning, &c., in order to induce a fruitful condition of the trees. 



In Plate No. 26, a tree of the Williams' Bon Chretien variety, grown 

 on sucker stock, is illustrated. Tliis tree, although about ten years old, 



