

AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



49 



Pear continued. 



the number of spurs, when they are too numerous, or 

 project too far from the branch. A spur is a short side 

 branch, which either has proper blossom-buda at its 

 apex, or only imperfectly-formed buds that elongate but 

 slowly, compared with ordinary wood-producing shoots. 

 It has already been stated that the fruit of the Pear is 

 borne on spurs. The system or mode of bearing is 



FIG. 48. FRUITING BRANCHI.ET OF PEAR. 



shown in Fig. 48. It frequently happens that a tree 

 has very numerous spurs, but only a few that are set 

 with blossom-buds. The other slender ones produce leaves 

 only, and, when they become numerous, it is more likely 

 that they will, if allowed, still further increase, rather 

 than diminish, as time goes on. To prevent this, and en- 

 courage the formation of more blossom-buds, such spurs 

 should be thinned in winter, and cut back nearly close 

 on the upper branches, at the same time thinning and 

 shortening somewhat less severely those on the middle 

 and lower branches respectively. This tends to cause 

 the sap to be more evenly distributed over all parts 

 of the tree, which further conduces to change numerous 

 barren spurs into fruitful ones. 



Boot-pruning has a wonderful influence on Pear-trees 

 worked on the Pear stock, when they become unfruitful 

 from over-luxuriance, or because of their roots having 

 entered a cold and unfavourable sub-soil. The Quince, 

 being of weaker growth, curtails the supply of sap, which 

 thus restricts the undue vigour of shoots, and causes a 

 more generally fruitful habit. Hence, trees worked on it 

 do not require root-pruning so frequently to insure fer- 

 tility, as do those on the Pear. If trees requiring root- 

 pruning are not too old, they should be lifted early in 

 autumn, and their large roots cut back, while all others 

 must be carefully preserved. All cuts should be finally 

 sloped on the upper part of roots, leaving that beneath 

 intact; this tends to keep the small new ones, when 

 formed, near the surface, instead of encouraging them to 

 proceed downwards. Root-pruning of large trees may be 

 effectually performed by digging a trench round them, 

 and shortening back the mains, to within, say, 8ft. or 

 4ft. of the base. The first year after this has been prac- 

 tised, the trees will not be likely to bear much fruit 

 indeed, the necessity of such an operation suggests 

 that the wood is not in a proper fruitful condition 



Vol. III. 



Fear continued. 



but, in the following winter, the results will invariably be 

 apparent by the presence of numerous spurs, furnished 

 with properly-developed blossom-buds. 



Gathering and Storing. Some few sorts of Pears 

 require gathering at a particular time : otherwise, the 

 fruits never acquire their proper flavour. The well- 

 known Williams' Bon Chretien, for instance, becomes 

 musky if allowed to hang too long, while it is juicy 

 and excellent if gathered early enough. As a rule, most 

 of the varieties are ready so soon as their fruits, on 

 being lifted to a horizontal position, part readily from the 

 spur. Many of the early sorts require gathering before 

 they are so far advanced ; others, ripening in succession, 

 must be frequently examined, and gathered at the time 

 experience suggests. Fine specimens should be laid on 

 a little moss, in shallow baskets, and carried to the fruit- 

 room, where they should be placed in single layers, on 

 shelves. A cool, steady temperature is best suited for 

 preserving fruit, and the atmosphere should be kept dry. 

 To maintain a supply of ripe Pears, it is frequently neces- 

 sary to adopt some method for hastening the ripening 

 process, with a variety usually coming into proper con- 

 dition at a later date, to supply a deficiency, maybe, a 

 month previous. This may be successfully accomplished 

 by packing some fruits in soft material, such as cotton 

 wool or dry fern, and placing them in a warm cupboard, 

 or drawer, not far from a fire. In winter, almost any 

 late variety may be improved in flavour, as well as for- 

 warded in ripening, by this simple process. 



Pear-trees in Pots. This interesting method of culture 

 is almost certain to succeed if only due attention is 

 given to watering, and also feeding, after the fruits 

 commence swelling. Mere protection from frost in any 

 unheated glass house is all that is necessary in spring. 

 About the beginning of June, the pots may be plunged 

 in some prepared soil outside, into which the roots may 

 be allowed to enter for the summer ; in autumn, when 

 repotting should be attended to, they may be cut off. 

 For this system of culture, trees on the Quince are best 

 adapted. They are often inclined to produce more 

 flowers than could possibly be matured ; in such instances, 

 a large number of the weaker ones should be removed 

 before expanding. For other remarks respecting fruit- 

 tree culture in pots, see Orchard House. 



SORTS. Varieties of Pears are extremely numerous, a 

 large proportion of them being worthless, and unfit for 

 any purpose whatever. It is, therefore, extremely im- 

 portant that reference should be given only to sorts 

 that are worthy of cultivation: this aim has been kept 

 in view in the preparation of the following list. It 

 includes the varieties, with some additions, recommended 

 as being worthy of cultivation, in an abridged statement, 

 taken from the full Eeport of the Executive Committee 

 of the National Pear Conference, held in the Royal 

 Horticultural Society's Gardens, Chiswick, from 21st 

 October to 4th November, 1885. This interim report 

 was prepared by Mr. A. F. Barron, secretary to the 

 committee, and published in the horticultural press 

 during December of the same year. At the Pear Con- 

 ference referred to, contributions were received from 

 thirty-five of the English counties, also from Scotland, 

 Ireland, Wales, and the Channel Islands. In addition, 

 several large and meritorious collections were received 

 from France. The report in question states that, " with- 

 out entering into comparison of the merits of the diffe- 

 rent collections exhibited, it is important to notify this 

 fact, that the cultivation of good Pears is not confined 

 to any particular climate or district of the country." 

 To confirm this, reference is made to noteworthy exhibits 

 from Jersey, Kent, Hampshire, Sussex, Cheshire, and also 

 from Scotland. The subjoined is added: "Nothing con- 

 tributes so much to these successful results as good and 

 careful cultivation. As a general rule, the best fruits 



