H THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



rain just after a drought if the roots are dry. Soot is a 

 safeguard against insects, and is supposed to give colour. 

 Dr Griffiths (in " Special Manures for Garden Crops," 

 p. loi) says: "Nitrogenous manures are requisite for 

 backward, potash and phosphates for forward trees; the 

 former aids growth, the latter develops bloom, the 

 sugar in the fruit, and the ripening of the wood. Pear 

 trees are aided by a manure containing four parts (by 

 weight) of kainit and one part of superphosphate 4 Ibs. 

 of this mixture to be given in the spring to each tree 

 after pruning. If the trees are backward, water once a 

 week with a solution containing I oz. of nitrate of soda 

 to 2 gallons of water." If basic slag and kainit are 

 given, autumn is the time, as their action is slow. 

 Nitrate of soda is good on hot, dry, and chalky soils. 



PEARS FOR A PRIVATE GARDEN 



If the space is small, try cordons or bushes. If three 

 are enough, Fertility, Pitmaston, Josephine de Malines ; 

 if six, add Durondeau, Bon Chretien, Cornice ; if nine, 

 add B. Hardy, B. Superfin, Verulam ; if twelve, B. 

 d'Amanlis, Louise Bonne, B. Clairgeau ; if fifteen, Jar- 

 gonelle, Clapp's Favourite, B. Diel ; if twenty, Doyenne 

 Boussoch, Marie Louise d'Uccle, Marechal de la Cour ; 

 if twenty-three, Glou Morceau, Winter Nelis, Passe 

 Crassanne ; if twenty-six, Comte de Lamy, Dana's 

 Hovey, Thompson's ; if thirty, Doyenne d'Ete, Emile 

 d'Heyst, Baronne de Mello, Easter Beurre or Olivier de 

 Serres. 



EXHIBITION PEARS 



Size is of importance as well as perfection in every 

 point. Coarse pears of inferior quality rarely win. 

 Choice must depend on the time of year when you com- 

 pete. The same fruits cannot be sent to several shows ; 



