142- THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



in order to obtain vigorous trees, is continued in Belgium, 

 especially in the gardens of convents, and in those of the no- 

 bility and rich citizens, of whom several esteemed varieties 

 bore the name. These varieties are, however, nearly all lost, 

 owing to their not having been propagated in due time. 



It is known that a seedling pear tree passes, if we may use 

 the simile, through the periods of infancy, adolescence, viril- 

 ity, to those of old age and decrepitude. The age which a 

 seedling pear tree may attain depends on its individual con- 

 stitution, the soil in which it is planted, and the pruning, 

 trimming, and cleaning from insects which it may undergo 

 during the whole period of its existence. This varies from 

 100 to 200 years or more. It is during the age of virility, 

 when the tree is in a fruitful condition, and most flourishing 

 state of vegetation, that grafts should be taken for propaga- 

 tion. By so doing, all the inherent qualities of the individ- 

 ual will be transmitted. This observation of general applica- 

 tion to all fruit trees is more especially so with regard to pear 

 trees for the open ground. 



Owing to the negligence in propagating, and more especially 

 at the proper time as regards the vigor of the tree, many 

 hardy and good varieties of pears, known to our ancestors, 

 are now lost. This circumstance has induced some pomolo- 

 gists to believe that a variety of pear has only a limited term 

 , of existence, at the expiry of which it must necessarily be- 

 come extinct. This opinion appears to be contrary to every 

 principle, and to facts. We see a vast number of kinds of 

 plants perpetuated by artificial propagation, and why should 

 it not be the same with varieties of fruit trees ? We believe 

 that varieties of these could be infinitely propagated by scions 

 taken from trees of proper age, and with due care, for ages to 

 come. There are doubtless causes of weakness, but this is 

 not the place for treating that question in detail. These 

 causes could not have existed in Belgium, where we cultivate 

 but few on the quince, the preference being given to vigor- 

 ous wild pear plants raised from seeds of orchard pears, for 

 stocks whereon to work, standard high, the sorts intended for 

 orchards, and also for dwarfs and pyramids destined for garden 



