40 FRUIT BOOK. 



Thus setting the stock below the bud or scion will 

 preserve them from the frosts of winter and the 

 borer in midsummer. In order to obtain fruit early 

 upon dwarf pears, the side shoots or spurs should be 

 suffered to remain upon the whole extent of the 

 tree, as they will then ordinarily form fruit buds 

 upon each spur. These trees are admirably adapted 

 for small gardens, occupying but little space, less 

 exposed to high winds ; thus affording greater se- 

 curity to heavy fruit. One of the new Flemish 

 pears, the " Duchess d' Angouleme," when grown 

 as a dwarf, produces larger fruit than when upon a 

 wilding. When pears are worked upon the wild 

 species, apples upon crabs, and peaches upon 

 peaches, the scion is in regard to fertility, says 

 Lindley, " exactly in the same state as if it had not 

 been grafted at all ; while, on the other hand, a 

 great increase of fertility is the result of grafting 

 pears upon quinces, peaches upon plums, apples 

 upon the thorn, and the like. -In these cases, the 

 food absorbed from the earth by the root of the 

 stock is communicated slowly." No other influence 

 have we ever noticed exercised by the scion upon 

 the stock. 



Deep soils are not necessary for the pear ; from 

 eighteen to twenty-four inches are quite sufficient. 

 Pruning is not often wanted in the culture of this 

 fruit as a standard. Some few kinds there are that 

 resemble the apple in their growth, that require 

 cutting to keep them from superfluous branches ; 

 those particularly of pendant or weeping habit. This 

 tree, under good management and in favorable soils, 



