Successful Pear Culture. 273 



per cent, gi^ow. Judging from observation in my own section, I do not 

 believe fifty per cent, of old high-trained trees live ; and more than 

 ninety per cent, of these fail ever to become fruitful and profitable trees." 



He has in his orchard some trees that were two or three years old, 

 and high-headed (bought because he could obtain no others), planted 

 at the same time as some yearlings. They have stood side by side now 

 for six years, and a single look at them shows at once the vast superi- 

 ority of the trees planted as yearlings and headed low ; and the difier- 

 ence will continue in their favor. 



The chief advantage attending low-headed standard pears may be 

 summed up as follows : — 



The soil is shaded from the sun and kept cool — an important point, 

 as no close observer has failed to note. The body of the tree is pro- 

 tected from the sun's heated rays. The tree, by low heading, is spread 

 out so that the light penetrates all parts of the tree, and colors the fruit 

 equally as well in the centre of the tree as on the outside (a colorless 

 pear is flavorless and unmarketable), and the heat reflected from the 

 surface of the earth aids in producing high flavor and color. Pears 

 produced on low-trained trees are larger and finer than on high-trained 

 trees. The trees bear at an earlier date and more abundantly. The 

 old notion, that one generation must plant standard pear trees that the 

 coming generation may gather the fruit, does not apply to properly- 

 trained trees on jDroper soil. Mr. Martin brings standard pears into 

 bearing from four to six years from planting yearling trees. 



Low-trained trees only can and will be properly pruned and summer- 

 pinched, and the fruit thinned when required. Economy in land is 

 accomplished, for double the number of trees can be safely planted per 

 acre. Low training allows close planting (ten by fifteen feet), and 

 close planting is a protection against the elements. All orchardists 

 understand that the centre of an orchard bears better than the outside 

 rows. Few varieties ripen all their fruit at the same time, and as speci- 

 mens require to be examined and gathered from day to day, this can 

 only be comfortably and cheaply done on low-trained trees. In brief, 

 every advantage pertains — either from the scientific, practical, or eco- 

 nomic point of view — to low-trained trees. 



VOL. VII. 35 



