52 THE PKAU AS EEGAKDS ITS S*OCK. 



VIIT. — 77/*? Pear as regards its Slock. By R. Errington, 

 C.M.H.S., Gardener to Sir Pliilip de Malpas Grey Egerton, 

 Bart., M.P., F.II.S., at Oultoii Park, near Tarporley. 



('Coinmunicated Nov. 1848.) 



AVhen we take into consideration the conflicting character of 

 the reports on Flemisii pears from various parts of the kingdom, 

 and even from the same neighbourhood, it is evident other 

 causes must be at woi'k besides the mere question of heat. 

 Some years since, when any difficult kind came to hand, or at 

 least any kind thought too tender for an ordinary standard, it 

 was at once assigned a place on the walls, and not unfrequently 

 in a very warm aspect. Subsequent experience, however, has 

 proved that the latter resort was frequently an extreme as fatal 

 in its consequences as the former. 



The consideration of such matters is at once suggestive of an 

 examination of the Stock queslion. 



Mr. Rivers and otlier nurserymen are beginning to work 

 extensively on the Quince ; and I feel persuaded that if the 

 habit of the quince was duly considered, and the soil adapted 

 accordingly, the result would be a much higher amount of 

 success than is at present attained. 1 do not wish it here to be 

 inferred that I would advocate the total banishment of the pear 

 stock from our gardens — not by any means. What I would 

 urge is, tliat most of the Flemish kinds which are not found to 

 succeed in a satisfactory way on the wall, would probably be 

 much improved if gi'own as dwarf standards or pyramidal trees, 

 providing proi)er means were taken to subdue, and continue 

 under control, their tendency to produce superfluous shoots. 

 The production of such shoots constitutes the principal reason 

 why the fruit; becomes unsatisfactor}^ The tree is in exciting 

 soil, perhaps, with luilimited power to range in quest of food ; 

 the necessary consequence is, that abundance of breast-shoots 

 are formed. Now it so happens tliat the amount of foliage on 

 such breast-wood is not an iota more than is requisite to elabo- 

 rate the great amount of watery juices thrown into the system. 

 No. Nature, true to her principles, produces no more foliage 

 than is necessary for a due amount of reciprocation between the 

 root and the branches. The tree is half-stripped of its elabo- 

 rative powers at the moment they are most needed, and the con- 

 sequence is large fruit filled with half-elaborated juices. The 

 gardener, to be sure, is obliged to cut away the breast-wood, or 

 general barrenness would be the result ; but methinks it makes 

 a man look very silly to be constantly employed in wheeling 

 good soil to plant trees in, and in wheeling gross breast-wood 

 back ao^ain. 



