46 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Fear continued. 



the surface, none of which are inclined to go deep ; con- 

 sequently, the trees may be readily and safely trans- 

 planted, even when they are several years old. This 

 stock is specially adapted for shallow soils, for damp 

 situations, and for planting where the subsoil is of an 

 unfavourable description.. Ripening of the wood goes on 

 concurrently with that of the fruit, and the less vigorous 

 growth which is encouraged has, therefore, a much better 

 chance of becoming matured in autumn. As Quince wood 

 does not usually enlarge so rapidly as that of the Pear, 

 grafting should be performed as close as possible to the 

 ground, and, after the clay is added, some soil should 

 be brought and heaped over it. If a Quince stock were 

 grafted with a Pear at any distance above ground, in 

 all probability, the scion above would eventually enlarge 

 faster, and the tree stem would be of less diameter near 

 the ground than higher up. By working low, and keep- 

 ing the Quince portion from being exposed, this may be 

 avoided. For procuring standard trees on Quince roots, 

 it is, therefore, best to adopt a system of double-grafting 

 that is, work a vigorous variety of Pear at the base, to 

 grow and form a stem, on which any desired sort may 

 be grafted higher up. Double-grafting proves very 

 advantageous with many varieties of Pears, but it does 

 not answer on all alike. On this point, Mr. Eivers, who 

 makes the system a speciality, states : " Double-grafted 

 Pears seem always to make healthy and prolific trees; 

 it must not, however, be concluded that to graft a free- 

 growing sort of Pear on the Quince and then to regraft 

 it with the desired sort, will always answer. Some 

 kinds require the stock belonging to their race; this 

 can only be found out by the clever cultivator as, for 

 instance, the Jargonelle on the Beurr6 d'Amanlis, the 

 union of which is perfect, and the trees healthy. Gansel's 

 Bergamot, double grafted, becomes a marvel of fertility." 

 It is especially important that Quince stocks intended 

 for grafting should be cut back, for the purpose, very 

 early in the year : active growth begins, in favourable 

 weather, by February, or, at least, the sap commences to 

 flow; and if heading back is deferred until this takes 

 place, the upper part of the stock left will often die, 

 and the grafts in consequence fail to unite. 



CULTIVATION. Soil and Situation. Any fairly rich, 

 loamy soil, of good depth, with a subsoil sufficiently well 

 drained to prevent the possibility of stagnant water 

 accumulating, will usually be found to suit Pear-trees. 

 When planting, the size of garden, and the amount of 

 wall space available for the tree in question, should be 

 taken into consideration, as well as the character of the 

 soil. The last-named item must, to a considerable ex- 

 tent, determine the sort of stock best suited namely, 

 whether it shall be the Pear or the Quince. On the first- 

 named stock, the trees will prove more vigorous, and 

 will require a greater depth of soil ; the result frequently 

 being that a much longer period must elapse before they 

 arrive at a bearing state. Where space is limited, and 

 the soil shallow, trees on the Quince stock should have 

 preference over others. It is important to remember 

 that the roots of a tree worked on Quince are concen- 

 trated very close to the base, and are situated very near 

 the surface. They require, because of this, more frequent 

 attention by way of replenishing part of the soil around 

 them, and by the application, at least annually, of a thick 

 mulching of good manure, which tends to preserve moisture 

 as well as to afford nutriment. Some sorts of Pears, worked 

 on Quince, have a tendency, in a favourable season, to bear 

 an unduly heavy crop, which, if allowed, would be likely 

 to check the new growth and bring the tree to a stunted 

 and unfruitful state. This must be avoided, by thinning 

 the fruit under such circumstances, when in a young 

 state, or by giving special attention to supplying sufficient 

 nourishment throughout the bearing season, for perfecting 

 the crop, without risking the proper maturation of wood 



Fear continued. 



for the following year. Although the Pear will often 

 succeed in a rather strong, loamy soil, it will not do so on 

 heavy clay, unless previously well drained, trenched, and 

 allowed to become pulverised. To encourage a start in 

 young trees, where the soil is somewhat unfavourable or 

 poor, a compost of turfy loam, decayed manure, and old 

 potting soil, if procurable, should be mixed and applied 

 above the roots, after they are merely covered with soil 

 from which manure is excluded. It is of importance that 

 the roots be carefully and evenly spread out in planting. 

 Eegarding the various situations in which Pears succeed, 

 much depends on the different localities and the sorts 

 grown. Even where good sorts are found to succeed fairly 

 well in the open garden, their fruits are invariably much 

 improved in quality if some trees are favoured with a 

 position against a wall. Wall space is usually limited, 

 yet it is questionable if it could be more profitably 

 occupied than by good sorts of Pears at least, in gardens 

 where the fruit is much valued, and where samples from 

 the open rarely attain a state approaching perfection. A 

 south aspect is that recommended for really good dessert 

 sorts; many will also do well on walls, with either an 

 eastern or a western exposure. The frequent failure 

 of the Pear crop may principally be attributed to the 

 extremely precarious weather so generally experienced 

 in spring, when the trees are in blossom, and also for 

 a time afterwards, when young fruits should be con- 

 tinuing to make progress in swelling off. Trees against 

 walls may then be more readily protected with temporary 

 coverings of some sort than others fully exposed; the 

 wall, moreover, is of material help in itself, affording 

 shelter particularly if some coping boards are fixed near 

 the top, somewhat like those in frequent use over Peach- 

 trees. 



Systems of Training. There are numerous systems of 

 training Pear-trees, according to the purpose for which 

 the trees are required, and the position they are intended 

 to occupy. For the open garden, standard and bush trees, 

 pyramids, espaliers, and cordons are each and all avail- 

 able ; for walls, the modes of training usually adopted are 

 the horizontal, the fan, and double or triple cordons, trained 

 in either an upright or an oblique direction. Dwarf lateral 

 cordons, with stems about 1ft. high, and two branches 

 trained in opposite directions, are suitable for planting in 

 sunny positions alongside walks, where they occupy but 

 little space, and usually succeed on warm, rather light soils. 

 Espalier training has long been popular for the open 

 ground. It admits of trees being planted within about 

 2ft. of the edge of a walk, and the ground may be cropped 

 to within a short distance of their base. An espalier 

 fence on which to train Pear-trees may be formed by 

 straining horizontal wires 1ft. apart, on a framework 

 about 6ft. high. This would admit of a tree being trained 

 with an upright stem and six horizontal branches on either 

 side. If several espalier trees were permanently planted 

 in a continous line, a space of from 16ft. to 20ft. should 

 be allowed between each two ; cordon or other trees might 

 be grown in this space, with a view to their being removed 

 before the other branches meet. Espalier fences are 

 more frequently formed of wooden rails, or stout upright 

 stakes, than of wires, on account of the expense incurred 

 in erecting the latter, and the objection usually taken 

 to their appearance when fixed. This arrangement is 

 also preferable where only a few espaliers are grown 

 and where the trees are widely disposed. The pointed 

 ends of stakes so used should first be charred or dipped 

 in hot creosote. Espalier training has many advantages 

 over other systems. It admits of all the branches being 

 well exposed to light on both sides, and easy facilities are 

 also afforded for regulating them, so as to equalise the 

 flow of sap. The fruits on such trees are usually not 

 much injured by rough winds, and it is a comparatively 

 easy matter to protect the blossoms in spring. Besides 



