90 SELECTING, PLANXmG, AifD CTJLTIVATION. 



4. The trees may be too old, or have stood too long 

 without transplanting. 



5. Bad priming. 



6. The practice of grafting on old stocks, to 

 which the new wood has not the power of assimi- 

 lating. 



7. The practice of gathering seeds for stocks from 

 any and every som-ce, from diseased fruit, and from 

 the fruit of diseased trees ; while the seed of small and 

 wild pears only are fit for the purpose. 



8. The custom of using suckers from old pear-tree 

 roots, which seldom attain a fair size or thrifty 

 growth. 



9. The employment of the common and the Por- 

 tugal Quinces for stock, instead of the large and rapidly 

 growing Angers variety. 



PEOPER AGE FOR PLANTING. 



This will depend much on the growth and treat- 

 ment in the nursery. I am decidedly of the opinion, 

 that when pear trees are to be left to struggle with 

 the ordinary difiiculties in an orchard, even when 

 they are to have skillful attention and watchful care, 

 they should not be planted less than four years old. This 

 requirement, however, is not without exceptions. For 

 instance: when they are to be planted not farther 

 apart than twelve or fifteen feet, and have some of the 

 advantages of good nursery treatment — in this case, 

 even yearlings may be planted at once in the fruit 

 ground ; also, when they are to be planted at greater 

 distances, and the grower will not begrudge the 

 bestowment of so large a piece of ground to the 



