259 



when trained on the cordon system under certain climatic conditions, 

 which, however, are unfavourable through the greater part of Australasia, 

 as the trees are too much exposed to the full power of the sun. In some 

 of the colder regions, and more especially in Tasmania and New Zealand, 

 the system may be practised with advantage. For particulars as to 

 cordon training see volume 1, page 60. 



CULTIVATION. 



It is advisable to keep the ground as free from weeds as possible, and 

 more especially in a plantation of young trees. An undergrowth of 

 weeds speedily exhausts the surface moisture, to the great detriment of 

 the trees. Large well-established trees do not suffer to the same extent 

 from this cause as young ones, but they will be in a better position if the 

 land is kept clean. Let the land be kept as clean as possible by frequent 

 light surface stirrings, which are better than deep ploughing or digging 

 as a rule. Sometimes, however, if root pruning is required, a deep 

 ploughing or digging may prove serviceable. As a matter of course, 

 suckers must be kept down by constant attention, as if allowed to make 

 headway they are troublesome to deal with. Mulching is serviceable to 

 the Pear, and more especially in the case of young trees. It should be 

 done before the hot weather sets in, covering the surface soil as far as the 

 roots extend. Old trees will often require assistance in the shape of 

 manure, and their wants should be attended to before their health is 

 impaired. Care must, however, be taken not to overfeed the trees when 

 supplying them with manure, as when this is done they are apt to make 

 too much wood. Small and frequent supplies are more effective than 

 lieav}'- manurings at long intervals. 



PROPAGATION". 



Propagation may*be effected by seeds, cuttings, suckers, layers, grafting, 

 and budding. Seeds are used for raising new varieties, and stocks for 

 grafting and budding. The pips should be sown in the autumn or spring, 

 covering them an inch deep. The next season the young plants 

 should be planted out in nursery lines, and will be fit for working the 

 following winter. Plants will readily strike from cuttings or layers, but 

 these, as a rule, do not make such good stocks as seedlings. Suckers are 

 often used as stocks, but they are inferior to seedlings. Grafting is the 

 method of propagation most usually adopted, and should be done 

 immediately the sap begins to rise in the spring. Budding is less frequently 

 practised, though it is preferred to grafting by some growers, as it can be 

 4one after mid summer, when there is less work in hand than in winter. 

 If necessary, trees may be budded in the spring with either wood or fruit 

 buds. This is a useful practice for filling vacancies on branches with 

 either class of buds. The buds are cut off in the ordinary way, but 

 instead of removing the wood it is allowed to remain. Insert the buds 

 with the attached wood in the usual way, and tie securely. Though the 

 union may be not so readily effected as in ordinary budding, yet the thin 



