PEARS. 133 



quent renovation of the spurs. This would lead to a prefer- 

 ence of the fan form, not, indeed, that which is commonly 

 practiced, for in it the spurs are as immovable as in any 

 other arrangement; but rather that recommended for 

 peaches, in which there is a continual renewal of the 

 branches. Or, if the horizontal form, which has certain 

 advantages, be adopted, it should be that modification ex- 

 hibited in p. 57 b. This is the method followed by Harri- 

 son in treating the Jargonell. 



The summer pruning of established wall or espalier rail- 

 trees, consists chiefly in the timely displacing or rubbing 

 off the superfluous shoots, retaining only those which are 

 terminal or well placed for lateral branches. Where spurs 

 are wanted on the older wood, about two inches of a fore- 

 right shoot are left ; and if this be done early, that is, be- 

 fore the shoot has become ligneous, it seldom fails to form 

 fruit-buds. In horizontal training the winter pruning is 

 nothing more than adjusting the leading shoots and thin- 

 ning out the spurs, which should be kept close to the wall 

 and allowed to retain only two, or at most three buds. In 

 fan-training the subordinate branches must be regulated, the 

 spurs thinned out, and the young laterals which had been 

 loosely nailed in during summer must be finally established 

 in their places. No crowding of branches should be per- 

 mitted. When horizontal trees have fallen into disorder 

 they may be renovated in the manner represented at p. 57 a, 

 a procedure patronized by Mr. Knight ; or all the branches 

 may be cut back to within nine inches of the vertical stem 

 and branch, and trained in afresh as recommended by Mr. 

 Lindley. 



When some of the finer pear trees produce an abundance 

 of blossom, but do not set well, as not unfrequently hap- 

 pens, artificial impregnation may be partially resorted to ; 



