THE PEAR TREE ] 205 



a check for want of moisture in the soil. The pit or 

 trough around the tree may be shallow, but at least as 

 wide as the outer boundary of the crown of foliage, and 

 watering should be repeated regularly throughout the dry 

 season. It is a grave mistake to stop watering after 

 picking the fruit. Trees dealt with in this way will soon 

 lose their leaves, long before autumn, and then the 

 flower buds will burst into bloom soon after the first 

 rains, which of course means the loss of next year's crop. 

 Watering is best done by irrigation or by flooding, but 

 where possible an occasional spraying in the evening 

 when the sun has declined, will be very beneficial both 

 to the tree and to its fruit. 



It is permissible to grow catch crops of certain 

 vegetables in the pear orchard, not only in winter but 

 also in summer, provided that the vegetables are properly 

 watered during the dry season and that they are not too 

 rank growing, such as cauliflowers or cabbages, in order 

 not to interfere with the action of the roots of the trees 

 by drawing too much on the resources of the land. The 

 best crops to grow are those which have a moderate root 

 system and are surface feeders, and also those which 

 require frequent dressings of manure, such as potatoes, 

 salads, onions, beets, turnips, radishes, peas, French 

 beans and marrows. 



PRUNING. Besides the pruning and trimming 

 required to train the tree to shape as desired, the pear 

 tree will require the attention of the pruner every year, 

 or at least every two years. All dead or diseased wood 

 should be removed, and any dense growth of branches or 

 twigs should be thinned out, to admit air and light to all 

 parts of the tree, and also to keep up its vigour and to 

 bring the new growth into bearing condition. All suckers 

 within the tree are removed by a clean cut, reserving 

 those which are required to renew a sickly or exhausted 

 branch. The sucker (Fr= gourmand] is a fast growing 

 twig produced on the old wood towards the interior of 



