286 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



There is a marked difference in appearance between the French and 

 Japanese seedlings. The leaf of the former is much smaller, more 

 round or heart-shaped and has a characteristic serration of the margin, 



FIG. 102. Fruit from Japanese seed- 

 ling pear, Pyrus serotina. 



which is less prominent and otherwise quite different from the Japanese, 

 which also possesses a characteristic shape and serration. The leaf of 

 the Japanese stock is much larger. The apex is long, narrowing gradu- 

 ally to a sharp point, while the apex of the French leaf is quite blunt. 

 The differences between the two are very clearly illustrated in Fig. 101. 



DWARF TREES. 



Dwarfing of standard varieties of pears has been practiced to a 

 limited extent for a long time. In California the writer has observed 

 two very successful orchards of dwarf trees, viz: the Block orchard at 

 San Jose and the Frank T. Swett orchard at Martinez. Both orchards 

 are heavy and consistent bearers. The dwarfing is brought about by the 

 use of the quince root. The variety known as Angers is commonly used. 

 Trees should be double-drafted, as in the case of the Swett orchard, 

 which has a quince root system, Hardy trunks and Bartlett tops. The 

 double-working is practiced because of the fact that the Bartlett 

 variety does not make a good union with the quince. The growth 

 at best is apt to be very unsatisfactory and breaking off at the union of 

 Bartlett with the quince is apt to take place during a high wind. There 

 are advantages and disadvantages of the dwarf trees. They come into 

 bearing earlier than standards and being small they are more easily 

 sprayed and pruned; blight, when it occurs in the branches, can be 

 removed with less trouble and expense, and picking is greatly facilitated. 

 In sections of heavy winds dwarfs may be grown to good advantage, 

 provided that stock has been used which has made a perfectly satis- 

 factory union with the quince and provided they have been planted 

 sufficiently deep to protect the union. The disadvantages usually given 

 are included in their lack of hardiness, and supposed tendency to be 



