THE PEAR. 



279 



My observations led me to imitate the 

 Seckel growth by inforcing- the same on all 

 other varieties, which can only be done by 

 pruning- on the severe spur system — such 

 as the cut herewith represents — a system, 

 I think, not too well known in this country. 

 This system is one of the good ones that 

 must be imported. 



To prune the pear in this way from the 

 baby tree up tends to prolong the useful life 

 of the same ; it makes the shy bearing 

 varieties more fruitful ; it increases the size 

 of the fruit ; it gives it higher color, as well 



above operation, but the older the trees get 

 the less will become the wood growth which 

 will be replaced by fruit buds, and that 

 more numerous year by year as the pruning 

 on this system goes on. 



A very important factor to make the 

 cultivation of the pear tree a success is the. 

 soil. The pear tree succeeds in any good deep 

 loamy soil, provided the subsoil is well 

 drained to three and a half or four feet deep 

 so as to be free from stagnant water. 



The pear will generally thrive where- the 

 apple will grow well. The pear will thrive 



1 / - 



Ai^V ' 



Fig. 1839. Pear Branch Spur Pruned. 



as much better flavor ; it distributes and 

 equalizes the sap throughout all the branches 

 alike, which causes a more healthy vigor, 

 when in turn the cultivator may expect 

 uniform fruit of the largest size and best 

 quality. This system is the greatest pre- 

 ventitive of the blight known at the present 

 time. 



When pruning on the spur system is com- 

 pleted, which should be in the month of 

 March, and that each year to be successful 

 from the time the tree is planted. 



The first few years of the trees' growth 

 may appear to be rather rampant from the 



well on a deep clay loam, but seldom suc- 

 ceeds on a stiff clay. 



To complete the work necessary to the 

 successful cultivation of the pear each tree 

 should have a mulch of coal ashes as far as 

 the spread of the branches in order to keep 

 the roots cool and moist, to keep the clay 

 soil from baking and shedding the rain or 

 artificial water from the roots. This mulch 

 is doubly beneficial to the dwarf pear on 

 account of its being worked upon the quince 

 roots which feed and spread near the 

 surface. The quince does not like a dry 

 hot soil to grow in, when the heat of the 



