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



tree, and using the roots for root-grafting tlie variety desired to be 

 influenced. 



Although there may be a difference of opinion as to the relative 

 qualities of stocks used for some fruits, it is almost universally agreed 

 that the pear seedling so far has given the best results as a stock upon 

 which to work selected varieties of the pear. It is known as a " f I'ee " 

 stock, and trees Avorked upon good specimens are generally influenced 

 into thrifty growth. 



"With seedling pears, however, if the seed is obtained without dis- 

 crimination as to variety, there is usually great variation in their 

 growth and general appearance, some being clean and erect in the stem, 

 whilst others may be thorny and othei"wise undesirable from a top-grafting 

 point of view. 



As the pear seedling, generally speaking, possesses such desirable 

 .qualities in regard to its influence upon growth, non-suckering, &c., any 

 deficiency in the other respects mentioned may be overcome. 



For instance, by selecting seed from the Oriental type of pear, such 

 as Kieffer or Garber's Hybrid, which claim part parentage from the 

 Chinese Sand Pear, a more even class of seedling is produced, and one 

 more thrifty in growth and cleaner in the stem. In America, where 

 the pear blight is such a menace to the pear-growing industry, it is 

 found that seedling stocks raised from the Oriental type are more 

 resistant to the disease; and in Victoria we know that the "several 

 varieties of this strain are practically immune from Pear Scab, and may 

 be classed as clean, free-growing trees. 



Considering these facts, and the general effect of this stock upon 

 the worked trees, the seed of the varieties mentioned may be recom- 

 mended as highly suitable for the production of seedling stocks, and 

 more satisfactory generally than the seed of most other kinds — certainly 

 more so than that of mixed varieties. 



The difficulty is to obtain sufficient quantititi.^ of seed for the 

 purpose of raising seedlings. In pre-war times, large quantities of pear 

 seed and seedlings were imported from Prance, America, and Japan ; 

 but as the Kieffer pear is used largely for canning purposes by jam 

 factories, it should be possible to secure the pips from the discarded 

 cores of the pears used in this Avay. If the pips were saved, it would 

 assist to supply the local demand for pear seed for the purposes of pear- 

 stock production, notwithstanding the fact that the fruit of the Kieffer 

 variety does not, as a rule, produce as many pips as some other varieties, 

 such as Broompark, the seed of which also produces a good stock, but 

 not so generally suitable as Kieffer. 



Plump, well-developed seed from good specimen fruits produces the 

 best seedling growths. The ideal way of gathering the seed of pears 

 is to allow the fruit to become quite ripe, or, in fact, decomposed, when 

 the seed may be readily washed out. A state of decomposition in the 

 fruit does not similarly affect the seed, which remains fresh and fertile, 

 although placed in such an environment. In fact, this is nature's 

 way of preparing the seed for its germination. 



If pear seed be removed from ripe or decomposed fruit, it will be 

 found that the covering or skin of the seed is comparatively soft, but 

 if allowed to become dry, the skin soon becomes hard and tough, and 

 it is this hardness which makes the germination of pear seed so pro- 



