ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 



543 



below the level of the surface of the 

 ground. It is infinitely better to plant so 

 that some future surface dressing may be 

 required to cover the swelling exposed 

 roots, than to have them buried below 

 the ready influence of atmospheric heat 

 and air. 



PEAR TREE, Mulching.— The pre- 

 servation of a proper degree of moisture 

 in the soil surrounding the roots of the 

 tree is the principal object of culture dur- 

 ing the first summer after planting. Both 

 the kind and amount of care will depend 

 upon the nature of the soil and the con- 

 dition of the weather; something will also 

 depend upon the first preparation of the 

 ground. Where the soil has been drained, 

 deepened, and pulverized, and the surface 

 is loose and mellow, nothing further will 

 be required than merely to prevent a 

 growth of weeds. If the surface is tena- 

 cious, frequent stirring, especially after 

 rains, will probably suffice, but where the 

 soil is shallow and largely composed of 

 sand or gravel, mulching will most effectu- 

 ally accomplish the purpose. 



Any loose material will answer as a 

 mulch, such as coarse manure, strawy 

 litter of any kind, or short grass as cut 

 from lawns; where a few trees only are 

 to be cared for, tan bark and refuse char- 

 coal dust are frequently employed. 

 Mulch should not be applied before the 

 middle of June, unless the weather proves 

 very dry and warm previous to that time, 

 and on clean ground it may remain dur- 

 ing the following winter, or be renewed 

 if exhausted ; but in rough, soddy ground, 

 where field mice may lurk, the soil 

 around the trees should be thoroughly 

 comminuted, and kept clean and com- 

 pressed. 



PEAR, Culture.— The best mode of 

 treating the soil in pear orchards is an 

 important question both in regard to the 

 health of the tree, and the production of 

 fruit. Laying aside all special circum- 

 stances, it appears evident that the con- 

 dition of the plants will indicate the 

 treatment required; the object being to 

 maintain health and encourage fruitful- 

 ness, the measure of successful accom- 

 plishment of these conditions will greatly 

 depend upon the knowledge of the prin- 

 ciples governing vegetable growth pos- 

 sessed by the cultivator. When the trees 

 are young the chief object is to encourage 



judicious growth, by employing expedi* 

 ents known to favor vegetable extension, 

 such as the application of manures, 

 breaking up and pulverizing the soil, 

 surface stirring, and other similar opera- 

 tions. By judicious growth is meant a, 

 luxuriance not incompatible with ma- 

 turity, and as this will depend upon 

 climate and locality, it is evident that a 

 discriminating knowledge of cause and 

 effect will largely influence success. In 

 northern latitudes, where the season of 

 growth is confined to five months' dura- 

 tion, it will be impossible to mature the 

 same amount of wood that can be pro- 

 duced on trees in a locality having seven 

 months of growing season. In the latter 

 case stimulating appliances may be used 

 with the best effects that would only tend 

 to dissolution in the climate of short 

 summers. The great desideratum in fruit 

 culture is ripened wood ; all useful culti- 

 vation begins and ends with this single 

 object in view, and is the criterion of 

 good or bad management. 



To cultivate, or not to cultivate, is a 

 question to be determined by climate and 

 condition of soil. Where it is deemed 

 advisable to encourage growth, it will be 

 proper to employ such appliances of cul- 

 ture as are known to produce that result; 

 and again, when ample luxuriance is 

 secured, and the tendency is still in that 

 direction, all surface culture should be 

 abandoned, and the orchard be laid down 

 in grass, cultivation to be again practiced 

 when the trees indicate its necessity. 



PEAR TREE, Pruning.— The pear 

 tree is usually a victim of excessive 

 pruning. It is pruned in winter to make 

 it grow, and pruned and pinched in sum- 

 mer to make it fruit. Why it is that the 

 pear, more than other spur-bearing fruit 

 trees should be supposed to require so 

 close and continued pruning does not 

 appear easy of explanation. It is evident 

 that this immoderate pruning is not 

 followed by satisfactory results, for while 

 apple, plum, and cherry trees fruit with 

 abundant regularity, with but little atten- 

 tion to pruning, unfruitfulness in the pear 

 is a frequent cause of complaint, especi- 

 ally with those who pay the strictest 

 attention to pruning rules, showing clearly 

 that successful pear culture is not de- 

 pendent upon pruning alone. While it 

 is perhaps equally erroneous to assert 



