ESSEX SOCIETY. 79 



the second and third years of their growth, and, for this purpose, 

 the month of August is preferable. 



Soil, and preparation of it for transplanting. A good loam, 

 on a dry and loose sub-soil, is the best for the cultivation of the 

 pear. Elevated spots are preferable, and in this climate a south- 

 ern exposure is always to be chosen. Heavy, rich soils, with 

 hard pan beneath, are unfavorable for the pear. A rich soil 

 tends to force the wood of the tree into a very luxuriant growth 

 at the expense of the fruit, and the wood made on such soils is 

 frequently a late growth, unripe when attacked by the frost in 

 autumn, and liable to be killed by the frozen sap blight ; and 

 when covering a clayey sub-soil, usually retains an undue 

 amount of moisture, which is very injurious to the roots of the 

 tree. Some recommend, on such lands, to dig a large hole into 

 the sub-soil, and fill it with properly prepared earth. But this is 

 evidently injudicious, for a complete basin is by that means 

 created, without any outlet, and all the evils of constant mois- 

 ture and rich soil will follow. The wood of the tree will be 

 forced, and the roots decay, in consequence of such treatment. 

 Pear roots need moisture ; but it is injurious for the water to re- 

 main and stagnate about them. The sub-soil should be of such 

 character as to allow it to drain off readily. For this reason, the 

 slope of a hill is preferred for standard trees. The sub-soil 

 which is best for the pear is seldom covered with a loam strong 

 enough even for the pear, consequently the land should be prop- 

 erly manured and cultivated before the trees are planted. The 

 best manures for this purpose are muck, meadow-mud, or mus- 

 cle-bed well pulverized; other manures well composted will 

 answer where the above-mentioned cannot be readily obtained. 

 Where the soil is very light and dry, a top-dressing of clay is 

 very beneficial. The manure should be well rotted and incor- 

 porated into the soil before the pear trees are planted. 



Transplanting, and best time for doing it. Having selected 

 the spot for pear trees, and prepared the soil for their reception, 

 the next process is the transplanting of the trees. This is 

 usually done when the trees are from two to three years on the 

 bud. Pears grafted on free stocks, should be set out, in gardens, 

 from fifteen to twenty feet apart, and, in orchards, from twenty 



