GATHERING THE FRUIT 51 



Boussoch, Fertility, and Marie Louise d'Uccle are fre- 

 quently planted. In unsuitable districts Pears should be 

 grown as cordons in cold glass houses. 



For the midland, southern, western, and eastern counties, 

 and Ireland, all the Pears named are suitable, but they 

 must be afforded deep, rich soils. Even in Kent there 

 are districts in which Pears frequently fail to crop well. 

 But, both as cordons and trained trees on walls, they may 

 all be tried, as special soil can in that case be provided for 

 them, and with attention to mulching, thinning, and water- 

 ing, a good gardener will generally overcome difficulties of 

 climate and soil. 



It is best, however, to select such varieties as are known 

 to succeed ; and to plant them in various aspects to ensure 

 the fruit ripening over a longer period than it would cover 

 if the whole crop were grown in the same conditions. We 

 prefer espalier Pears on the free or Pear stock, and such 

 trees are best on chalky or sandy land. 



CHAPTER X 

 GATHERING AND STORING THE FRUIT 



PEARS are very easily bruised, and the gathering basket 

 should be lined with old blanket, or a soft material, so that 

 the fruits will not be injured in taking them to the store. 

 Large Apples should be treated with equal care. The basket 

 should be carried by hand, and not be placed in a barrow 

 to get shaken in transit. Handle the fruits carefully, and 

 do not store any that are bird-pecked or such as show 



