APPLES, PEARS, AND QUINCES. 547 



the tree. Old pear trees are reinvigorated by the same process 

 of grafting the tops, already described, for the apple. 



Thinning the fruit, as we have hinted, is often necessary. 

 Says Thomas W. Field, a successful cultivator of the pear: 

 " Good soils, fine cultivation, healthy and vigorous trees, and all 

 the other requisites of pear growing will often fail of producing 

 fine fruit, if all that sets is allowed to remain on the tree. The 

 fruit of the Bartlett, Dearborn's Seedling, Louise Bonne de 

 Jersey, and many other varieties will set in such quantities 

 that, if thinning is neglected, not one-half will reach the- full 

 size or acquire their best flavor. Besides, these varieties yield 

 fruit so early that the trees would be ruined by this precocious 

 fruitfulness. Two years after planting, these varieties will com- 

 mence bearing, and not more than a dozen specimens should be 

 allowed to ripen annually the first two years of bearing. The 

 period for thinning is when the pears are from a half to three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter; for, as many fall soon aftei 

 forming, it is not until then the healthy and perfect ones can be 

 distinguished. Not more than one-half the thinning should be 

 done at once, and the others may be allowed to remain until wo 

 can ascertain the imperfect fruit to be removed. 



There are but few of the finer varieties that are not improved 

 by gathering before they are fully ripe. Not a few have been 

 discarded as unworthy of cultivation, which by early picking 

 improve so as to rank among the first in excellence. Several 

 varieties rot at the core when left upon the tree until fullj^ ripe, 

 whicli will keep for weeks if picked earlier. Among these are 

 the Flemish Beauty, BeurreDiel, and Louise Bonne de Jersey. 

 The true test of the proper condition for gathering is, the cleav- 

 ing of the stem from the spur when slightly raised. Some 

 varieties indeed should not be left even so long as this. The 

 fruit should never be picked early in the morning while the 



