Mareh 30, 1876. ) 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE QABDBNBB. 



255 



broken down by the falling of trees, but had Btarted to grow 

 again and looked as healthy as any of them. The whole gully 

 wa? a vast fernery without any of the stifiaesB which is some- 

 times seen in the ferneries at home. The Ferns were the 

 picture of health, the foliage of the Dioksonias being much 

 darker than we ever remember seeing it at home. 



In two or three instances we saw where the trunks had 

 been thrown across the creeks so as to form a bridge ; still 

 even there they were growing again with vigour and looking 

 very pretty indeed, although the settlers do not think so. It 

 seems a great pity for th-m to be destroyed in such a manner 

 to anyone who has seen them growing in England and knows 

 how they are valued there. The fronds are largely nsed here 

 for decorative purposes, and are very effective when inter- 

 spersed with flowers. 



From the localities in which the Dioksonias grow in Tas- 

 mania we believe they would grow in a cooler temperature 

 than is generally considered necessary at home, for in the 

 winter here they are frequently exposed to frosts. — P. W., 

 Launceston, Tasmania. 



[The Editors hope that yon will favour them with more 

 such interesting notes.] 



PEARS AND THEIR CULTURE.— No. 3. 



The conditions under which Pears are cultivated here may 

 be stated as follows : — 



Soil. — A thin, poor, light, ferruginous sandy loam, enriched 

 with heavy dressings of farmyard manure. Sewage is also 

 used occasionally in summer. 



Climate. — Judging from five years' experience, and from Mr. 

 Prince's book on the climate of Uckfield, which is really a most 

 valuable and elaborate meteorological record for this district 

 from 1843 to 1870, I may safely venture to assert that the 

 climate is a favourable one. To render the observation really 

 valuable I should add that the position of the fruit garden is 

 an elevated one, well sheltered by trees on all sides, and sloping 

 gently from north to south. It has a thorough and ef&cient 

 system of drainage, which doubtless has a favourable effect 

 upon the temperature, it having a mean elevation of quite 2° 

 above that of a valley running parallel to its eastern boundary, 

 and about 100 feet below it. 



Teees. — The trees are trained in the form of pyramids, 

 palmetto verriers, and diagonal cordons. Summer-pruning is 

 practised in moderation — not rigorously, each tree being treated 

 according to its condition and apparent requirements ; a very 

 vigorous tree being pruned or pinched two or three times, a 

 less vigorous one perhaps not more than once, and a weakly 

 one not at all. As a rule the shoots are always pruned twice 

 during the season of growth, and the third shoot is snlfered to 

 grow unchecked till the beginning of September, when it 

 receives a twist near its base, and is left hanging downwards 

 without being broken off, thus causing the bottom buds to 

 become full and plump without starting into growth, which 

 they would do if the shoot had been cut off. 



Let us, even at the risk of repetition, compare the two plans, 

 for the matter is important. By twisting (really crippling) 

 the shoot, and leaving it pendant from its own base, its tissues 

 are so much bruised that the action of the sap in the part 

 suspended is almost, but not quite, stopped ; the buds at the 

 base, immediately below the injured (twisted) part receive 

 therefore a proportionate increase of nourishment, causing 

 them to become so strong as to ensure a robust free growth in 

 the following spring. The embryo fruit buds also derive much 

 benefit from this timely concentration of vigour or turning of 

 the tree's resources to the best account. If we continue to pinch 

 off the points of the shoots late in August, we then induce an 

 untimely growth, too late to attain maturity either in size or 

 substance, and I very much fear often giving rise to false 

 alarms concerning the fruit prospects of the ensuing season — at 

 any rate false so far as it concerns the mature growth of well- 

 managed trees. 



Nothing can be worse than the results which attend a rigid 

 routine of close-pinching, that stopping of every growing shoot 

 at its second or third leaf which has been so much practised. 

 The effect is really very similar to that which results from the 

 repeated clipping of a hedge. I have seen many a pyramid 

 tree, of which its close compact surface was the exact counter- 

 part of that of a well-kept hedge. Such trees are certainly 

 symmetrioal, but they are nothing else. Their ntUity is 

 almost destroyed, for they yield but little fruit. Now, this 

 faulty practice is most deplorable, because there is not the 



slightest necessity for it. Symmetry and utility need not 

 clash. Why, indeed, thonid they be antagonistic? The sole 

 end and aim of scientific fruit culture is to obtain the greatest 

 possible quantity of fine fruit in a given space. Applied to a 

 pyramid it resolves itself into imparting a symmetrical outline 

 to a cone-like form, consisting of a main stem famished with 

 branches from its base upwards ; not crowded, but far enough 

 apart to give such full play to light and air among the foliage 

 that each branch may become clothed with lateral growths, 

 really spurs, capable of bearing fruit along its entire length. 

 To do this in the best manner training must be resorted to 

 during the earlier stages of the tree's growth. When the trees 

 are numerous this becomes a serious business, making heavy 

 demands upon one's time ; but it must receive timely atten- 

 tion, and cannot be ignored. The neglect of a single season 

 when the trees are young will leave its impress upon them as 

 long as they exist. During the training every ligature should 

 be examined daring the season of growth. The stem and 

 branches of a robust young tree increase in bulk with such 

 surprising rapidity that a fastening which was quite loose when 

 put on may be found buried in the bark in the course of a 

 month or two. 



Root-pruning is in my opinion most beneficial when regarded 

 as a remedy for barrenness. Applied at stated periods indis- 

 criminately it is productive of evil rather than good. Where is 

 the necessity for it when a tree is not rampant and is annu- 

 ally developing more fruit buds ? If you want sensational 

 crops on small trees prune the roots, but do not expect very 

 fine fruit or long-lived healthy trees to ensue. It may be ad- 

 visable when dwarf trees are required for very small gardens ; 

 but even in such instances it would be better to plant a lesser 

 number of trees farther apart, and let them become really fine 

 specimens. There is always plenty of room upwards ; more- 

 over, you will obtain more and better fruit oH one large tree 

 than off half a dozen small trees. Do not let me be misunder- 

 stood here. By large I mean trees of 10 or 12 feet high, and 

 with a base of or 8 feet in diameter ; by small I mean those 

 absurd scrubs about the size of a respectable Gooseberry bush, 

 or with a stem 4 or 5 feet high, bearing perchance a dozen 

 fruit, and which are sometimes actually exhibited as examples 

 of the effects of root-pruning. 



I wiU now proceed to the description of some of the Pears 

 which have produced enough fruit here to enable me to form a 

 tolerably correct opinion of their respective merits. The list 

 must not by any means be regarded as an exhaustive one of 

 even the most choice kinds, as it comprises only a few of the 

 collection. It possesses, however, an uncommon interest, 

 owing to the fact that none of the trees were planted before 

 1871, and that a full crop of almost every sort named was 

 obtained last year without root-pruning. 



Desire Cornelis.^Thia is a comparatively new Pear not yet 

 in general cultivation. The tree was planted in 1871, and is 

 on the Quince stock. The growth is robust, but not very free, 

 somewhat loose and spreading in habit, and is remarkable for 

 its early fertiliiy, having produced some good fruit in 1874 and 

 1875. The fruit is handsome, large and tapering, very sweet, 

 melting, juicy, and tender — precisely what might be termed a 

 refreshing Pear, and as such is a valuable addition to our 

 September varieties. 



Comte de Lamy. — This answers well upon the Quince. Ths 

 growth is thin but robust, requiring rather close pruning to 

 induce a free lateral growth. The medium-sized pale yellow 

 fruit is not handsome in appearance, but it is perhaps the 

 most delicious of October Pears. White, juicy, melting, 

 tender, of a sweet, rich, and eminently delicious flavour, it 

 is worthy of the highest commendation, and should find a 

 place in every garden. 



Doyenne Boussoch. — This answers well as an espalier upon 

 the free stock. The growth is free and robust, but fruit buds 

 have not jet been plentiful. The fruit was almost ripe when 

 gathered on the 4th of last October. It is very large, round, 

 and handsome, with a tinge of crimson on the sunny side. 

 The flesh is white, with a sweet, brisk, and tolerably rich 

 flavour and an agreeable aroma. A fine Pear. 



Duchesse d'Orleans. — A handsome pyramid of this on the 

 Quince has a very stout erect growth, upon which spurs cluster 

 thickly. It had a good crop last year. The first gathering 

 was made October 4th, and the la^t five days later. It was fit 

 for table on the 19th of October. The fruit is large and taper- 

 ing, something in the way of Marie Louise, with flesh of a 

 yellow tinge, juicy, and sweet, with a piquant acidulous flavour 

 and a delicious aroma. An excellent variety. 



