206 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



the introduction of a large number of new varieties, until now there 

 are about a thousand kinds described. 



Propagation. (a) Pears are propagated by crown grafting in 

 the field; (6) by root grafting in the house in winter on whole roots; 

 (c) by budding in summer. The stocks commonly used for the 

 pear are: (a) Seedlings of the small, crabby pears, which are com- 

 mon in Europe and are known botanically as the Pyrus nivalis. 

 These produce a large amount of plump seed, and are vigorous and 

 thrifty. Most of the stocks used in this country are imported from 

 Europe, and trees worked on these grow into standard or large 

 trees. The seedlings are not easily grown here, as they often blight 

 in the seed bed. (6) Quince roots (Cydonia vulgaris) are used as 

 stocks for dwarf pear trees. These stocks are grown by mound 

 layering the Angers quince, and are afterwards planted out and 

 budded. The union formed is quite permanent, although it is often 

 marked by a considerable swelling. Some varieties do poorly on the 

 quince, while others are improved both in productiveness and in 

 quality of fruit. If dwarf trees are planted deep they throw out 

 roots above the union and become standards. Dwarf pears have the 

 merit of fruiting very young and heavily, often when only three 

 years from the bud. They require the new wood to be shortened 

 each year if they are to be kept in compact form, otherwise they 

 grow too rangy. About 12 feet is the proper planting distance, 

 (c) Thorns (Crataegus), mountain ash, and even shad bush (Amel- 

 anchier canadensis) have been used as stocks for the pear with fair 

 results. It is quite common to use the mountain ash for this pur- 

 pose in Sweden, where ordinary pear stalks are tender. The Jap- 

 anese quince has also been tried, but does not form a permanent 

 union, (d) The Kieffer pear is sometimes used for pear stalks, and 

 for this purpose it is generally grown from cuttings. Its use is 

 largely confined to the Southern States. (U. S. E. S. B. 178.) 



Soil. In the matter of soils the pear is recognized as a fruit 

 which is not very discriminating. The ideal soil for dwarf and 

 standard pears is a clay loam, with a porous clay subsoil. The 

 dwarf pear requires a moister, stiff er soil than the standard to secure 

 maximum results, although even dwarfs may be made to succeed 

 on sandy soils by heavy manuring and high cultivation. Sandy 

 soils with clay subsoil often prove very good for the standards. 

 Many of the pear orchards on the eastern shore of Maryland and 

 at least a portion of those in New Jersey are on this kind of soil. 



For the Oriental pears the light, sandy peach soils may be con- 

 sidered the ideal ones. The Oriental pears will grow and thrive on 

 almost any soil which is not too wet; but for the highest perfection 

 in quality of fruit and smoothness and high color of the skin they 

 should be grown on rather light, porous, well-drained soil, and on 

 high or sloping locations, where the air drainage is good. In 

 other words, the Oriental pears reach their greatest perfection in 

 localities and sites where the peach succeeds well. (Y. B. 1900.) 



Trees and Planting. (a) Young, thrifty trees about two years 

 from the bud are the best for planting. (6) Pears are generally 



