152 FRUIT-GARDENING. 



The Pear is a much handsomer upright growing tree than 

 the Apple ; more durable, and its wood hard and valuable for 

 the turner and millwright; but its blossoms, being white, are 

 less showy than those of the Apple. 



A Pear-Orchard may be planted at any time after the trees 

 are. two years old from the graft ; and as some varieties of 

 trees from young stocks will not come into full bearing until 

 ten or twelve years old, they will bear removing with care at 

 any time within that period. They may be planted at from 

 twenty to thirty-five feet distance from each other, according 

 to the nature of the tree. The dwarf varieties may be planted 

 in the kitchen-garden, and trained either as espaliers or dwarf 

 standards. 



Standard Pear-trees will require but little pruning after the 

 heads are once formed ; in doing which, the branches should 

 be permitted to extend on all sides freely. Several years may 

 elapse before any cross-placed, irregular, or crowded branches 

 require pruning; yet there are some kinds whose form of 

 growth resembles the Apple, which will need frequent prun- 

 ing. 



IMPROVEMENT OF VARIETIES. 



" That some of the fine old varieties of the Pear have 

 deteriorated in . some parts of the country, is unquestionable ; 

 this is ascribed to various causes ; first, that the varieties have 

 run out, as it is termed ; second, to the use of diseased stocks, 

 or scions from diseased, or aged, or unthrifty trees, or both ; 

 third, to the deleterious influence of the salt air, near the sea- 

 board ; fourth, to the want of proper attention to soil and cul- 

 ture. We cannot subscribe to the soundness of the reason 

 first assigned ; there are too many instances of varieties of fruit 

 whose origin is so remote that it cannot be traced, still con- 

 tinuing in full vigor ; and the kinds which have deteriorated in 

 some sections of the country still maintain their celebrity in 

 the interior, and more especially in the virgin soil of the West. 



