APPLES, PEARS, AND QUINCES. 548 



"Whatever the soil, it should be thoroughly and well cultiva- 

 ted. The pear on its own roots will not well bear transplanting 

 after three or four years of age, unless it is root-pruned every 

 year, or at least the year before transplanting ; but on the quince 

 it may be transplanted at almost any age. But though in 

 gardens and in market culture the pear is usually grown on the 

 quince as a dwarf tree, for the purposes of the ordinary farmer, 

 to whom we speak, we advise budding on pear stocks. At three 

 years from the bud they should be removed to the orchard. The 

 early autumn is the best time for this, and if done before the fall 

 of the leaf, the leaves should be stripped off. When transplanted, 

 great care should be taken to retain as many as possible of the 

 small fibrous rootlets, as these furnish life to the tree. The 

 same directions given for transplanting the apple apply to the 

 pear, except that the trees should not be more than twelve feet 

 apart, which will allow Hve hundred trees to an acre. Every 

 farmer can find at least one fourth of an acre to devote to the 

 culture of the pear, which will allow for one hundred and 

 twenty-five trees, and will be a source of enjoyment and profit. 

 One need not now wait a lifetime to obtain the fruit, for six 

 years from planting the seed is ample time for the first crops of 

 this delicious fruit, and we know of thousands of pear trees that 

 have borne for over fifty years. "VYe once knew a tree three 

 years from the bud to set over four hundred pears; all bui 

 about twenty-five were picked ofi", but this shows how quick 1}^ 

 the fruit will mature, if treated properly. Pear trees set twelve 

 feet apart and pruned to the pyramid form, will have plenty 

 of room for a number of years, and as they become too thick 

 the poorest trees can be thinned out. The pyramid form is 

 very easily obtained if the trees are kept down, as the pear 

 should be, to within twelve feet in height. In the pear orchard 

 no calculation should be made for horse cultivation, and the 



