284 



PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



CHAPTER III. 



TREES, STOCKS AND PROPAGATION. 



STANDARD TREES. 



The planter has his choice of two general classes of pear trees desig- 

 nated as standard and dwarf. The former consist of known varieties 

 budded or grafted into seedling roots, which may be produced from 

 seeds of any of the cultivated varieties but which are usually of Euro- 

 pean or Asiatic origin. The wild pear of Europe (Pyrus communis), 

 has been used almost entirely in the past for propagating standard 

 trees. The nurserymen, as a rule, have bought what are known to the 

 trade as French seedlings, getting them directly from France, where 



FIG. 100. Water sprouts at the base of Bartlett tree, illustrating the 

 tendency of the French root Pyrus communis to develop an abundance of 

 succulent sprouts. 



they are grown in great quantities for importation into the United 

 States. Large nursery companies contract for them and in turn supply 

 the smaller nurserymen. These seedlings are planted in the nursery 

 row and are later budded or grafted with the desired variety. A large, 

 vigorous tree results if stock, soil and climatic conditions are favorable. 

 The Asiatic wild species of pear, formerly called Pyrus sinensis, but 

 now known to be Pyrus serotina, has been successfully used in propa- 



