9 6 



Commercial Gardening 



the branches, and to thin out where the growth of wood is likely to pro- 

 duce entanglement. 



On the Quince, most Pears lend themselves easily to training in the 

 pyramid shape (tig. 352), although some varieties, like " Conference ", take 

 more readily to the bush form. It really does not matter in a market 

 plantation, and the wisest course is the line of least resistance. 



It does not pay to plant the common varieties of Pears, that come to the 



cheap barrow trade, on the 

 Quince. This stock is only 

 suitable for such as will 

 produce table fruit that 

 will realize a decent price; 

 then the tree will pay for 

 summer pruning. This 

 consists in shortening all 

 the latest growths except 

 leaders, during the latter 

 end of July or beginning 

 of August, to one-third of 

 their length; afterwards, 

 in winter, spurring them 

 back to two or three eyes. 

 Pears that are worth 

 planting on the Quince will 

 pay for thinning in the 

 spring after the fruit has 

 set, and has escaped the 

 attentions of the Pear 

 Midge. All varieties of 

 Pears are liable to over- 

 bloom themselves and 

 waste the energy that 

 should go to producing 

 fruit in making of them- 

 selves a spring glory. When 

 on the Quince this tendency 



can be checked somewhat by taking off superfluous bloom spurs before 

 they open in the spring. In the case of full-grown trees on the Pear stock 

 this would mean so large a contract that most growers will prefer to 

 leave this matter to nature. 



Pruning 1 . When a plantation is first started, pruning seems such an 

 easy matter and to any gardener with the right spirit within him it is 

 an attractive and interesting occupation, calling as it does into exercise 

 those faculties of judgment, foresight, imagination, and restraint that go 

 to the painting of a picture or the writing of a book that all sorts of 

 resolutions are formed that the trees and bushes shall be constantly 



Fig. 352. Pyramidal Pear Tree 



