ORCHARD TREES n 



the main branches which run inwards ; keep the centre 

 open, well exposed to the light, sun and air, and allow 

 the main branches to develop themselves freely. In 

 the winter cut all shoots not needed back to two or 

 three eyes. If more boughs are needed, shorten the 

 leading shoots, always cutting just above an outer eye. 

 Make the tree as even as you can by shortening leading 

 shoots on opposite sides. Never allow boughs to cross 

 or to interfere with one another. If boughs are void 

 of a fair proportion of shoots and spurs, they should be 

 stopped. Be careful to admit the sun fully on the 

 south side. Cut off all shoots springing from the 

 central part or on the lower part of the branches of 

 old standards. If young standard trees are well planted, 

 carefully fed and pruned, the stems kept clear of weeds 

 and grass, they can be brought into comparatively early 

 bearing. Where irrigation is possible, let a stream of 

 water that has flowed some distance over the ground 

 be turned in dry weather on to their roots, or let liquid 

 manure be given after rain ; the effect will be sur- 

 prising. But beware of very cold or stagnant water ! 



Early pears are probably the most profitable for 

 orchard planting. The following are reliable : 



Six Market Orchard Standard Pears selected by 

 Messrs Bunyard : Hessle, Fertility, Williams' Bon 

 Chretien, Beurre Capiaumont, Durondeau, Pitmaston 

 Duchess. 



Messrs Rivers' list of seven : Beacon, Bon Chretien, 

 Clapp's Favourite, Fertility, Conference, Marie Louise 

 d'Uccle, Vicar of Winkfield. 



The list of an eminent firm in the south is as follows : 



Bon Chretien, Hessle, Pitmaston Duchess, Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey, Emile d'Heyst, Marie Louise. At the 

 Pear Conference (R.H.S.), 1885, Bon Chretien had 50 

 votes, Louise Bonne 46, B. Capiaumont 38, Hessle 30. 

 Thus, William's B. C. has 4 votes, Hessle 3, Pitmaston 



