STAKING AND WIRING 7 



account be inserted as near the ground as possible. 

 Should the soil be very heavy, yet pears must be planted, 

 place the roots almost on the surface, and throw the 

 lightest earth obtainable round the stem. If such ground 

 is trodden down hard, and rain should soon follow, the 

 ground would probably become like a brick, and the 

 roots, kept in check, would suffer seriously. 



The best time for planting is towards the close of 

 October and in November. Select your trees yourself, 

 and go only to first rate nurserymen for pears if you 

 want varieties on the Quince stock. Each nursery has 

 its specialty. Budding, grafting and double-grafting 

 on special stocks do not always have the attention and 

 skill required. If you cannot go, send your orders 

 early, so as to secure an early choice and good trees. 

 Planting may continue to the end of February, but you 

 must not expect good trees for late orders. The roots, 

 too, make some progress even in winter, so that early 

 planting is preferable in every way. 



STAKING AND WIRING 



Standards should be attached to a round, strong, stout 

 stake 2-J inches thick or more, as soon as planted. The 

 best plan is to have the stake in position ready for the 

 tree. For full sized standards, the stakes should be 

 7 to 8 feet long, and driven 18 inches or more into the 

 ground ; they should be in the centre of each hole. 

 Choose durable wood, as far as possible. A straw or 

 hay band, or a piece of bagging, should now be run 

 round the stem, and the stake attached to it by thick 

 string or cord well tarred. The twigs of the willow 

 (soft and strong, especially the golden willow) may also 

 be used. Protection against rabbits must be provided 

 at once. A wire fence round the orchard or garden is 

 best ; where there is no fence, put a yard of wire netting 



