44 THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



trench 20, 30 or 40 inches from the stem (according to 

 size of tree) until the coarse roots are reached. One- 

 third the distance from the stem that the trees are in 

 height is a rule suggested by a recent writer. 1 Cut back 

 such roots with a sharp knife ; drive the spade under 

 the stem (if possible) to cut the tap roots, and any others 

 going downwards. Open a trench half round one year, 

 and if necessary attack the other half next year. Be 

 careful not to prune too hard at first, or to injure the 

 fibres. Begin in mid-October. If the ground below is 

 very dry, give warm or rain water. Fruit blooms will 

 probably appear next autumn. If young trees grow 

 very luxuriantly, they may be lifted at the end of 

 October with advantage. Cut the tap root and replant 

 at once. Exposure of the roots is dangerous to vitality. 

 Persons who prune their trees only in winter usually 

 grow wood rather than fruit. 



MARKETING AND PACKING 



Marketing depends greatly on the neighbourhood. 

 Colour, size and quality ensure a sale everywhere, but 

 only a constant supply of good fruit will attract retail 

 dealers or the London salesmen. Poor stuff will not 

 sell at a good market. The early fruits may be sent in 

 flats (with tops) lent by the salesmen. But these are 

 often lost and involve trouble and expense. Non-return- 

 able boxes to contain half a bushel or a bushel are now 

 in use, but such boxes are too large for the better fruits. 

 Californian pears come to us in good condition in boxes 

 containing each a few dozen fruits, each fruit being 

 separately packed in tissue paper. French pears are 

 also sent in boxes evenly graded and packed in one, 

 two, or three layers. Small boxes bought by the gross 

 are not dear. The following list is taken from Watson, 

 vol. v. p. 369. 



1 John Wright, "Profitable Fruit Growing." 



