42 



trees showed a thoroughly healthy appearance, he accepting 

 this as the natural increment as a result of his time r 

 money, trouble, and brains. Only a few weeks ago we were 

 asked to accompany the Chief Justice through his orchard 

 in Drakenstein. Among other trees, he had over 1,000 pears 

 planted five years ago ; he was not satisfied with the growth and 

 bearing of these, the Bon Chretiens being the only variety that was 

 carrying a small crop. We at once recognized that the trees were 

 doing very satisfactorily and told him so, at which he seemed 

 quite relieved ; we mentioned at the time that we had planted 

 several thousand pear trees on our own place and that if they were 

 doing as well at the same age we would be perfectly satisfied. It 

 would well repay the Government to have a man going round 

 continually who had an intimate knowledge of what to expect 

 from the different classes of fruit, to point out to orchardists where 

 trees are in bearing whether the growth be satisfactory or no, and 

 whether the general health and appearance of the orchard be 

 commensmate with the money and work put on it. 



In conclusion, we would say that Farmers should under no 

 circumstance neglect pruning, but that cutting is a rational 

 operation and is done before the tree is expected to bear, with 

 the sole idea of shaping the tree to enable it to carry fruit, and 

 after the tree comes into bearing, with the idea of retaining it in 

 fruit covering a long lifetime. 



We think that it will not be out of place here to give a table 

 showing about what date the principal classes of fruits begin to 

 come into bearing, it may be a guide to growers. 



Apples, on Spy or Com munis from Rome Beauty, which bears in 

 the 3rd year, to Spy which bears in the 8th, dependent on variety,, 

 or Paradise, 2 years earlier so far as we know through all varieties. 



Pears on Pear, from Bon Chretien in the 4th year to Duchess 

 d'Angouleme in the 7th. 



On Quince in our experience hardly any earlier ; this stock 

 should however save a couple of years. 



Peaches. In the 3rd year, often in the 2nd. 



Apricots. In the 4th year. 



Plums and Prunes. Domestic, in the 5th year, 



Japanese in the 2nd year. 



Cherries, in the 6th year. 



