OP FRUIT TREES. 185 



abundant crops, the fruit being equally dispersed 

 over every part. Grafts of no fewer than eight 

 different kinds of pears had been inserted, and all 

 afforded fruit, and nearly in equal plenty. The 

 same mode is applicable to common standard trees. 

 By this mode, Mr. K, remarks, the bearing bran- 

 ches, being small and short, may be changed every 

 three or four years, till the tree be a century old, 

 without the loss of a single crop, and the central 

 part, which is almost necessarily unproductive in 

 the fan mode of training, and is apt to become so 

 in the horizontal, is rendered in this way the most 

 fruitful. Where it is not desired to change the 

 kind of fruit, nothing more of course is necessary 

 than to take off entirely the spurs and supernume- 

 rary large branches, leaving all blossom buds which 

 occur, near the extremities of the remaining bran- 

 ches. 



A pear tree brought from Holland, and planted 

 in the year 1647, is now in full bloom, standing in 

 the third avenue at the intersection of Thirteenth 

 street, (New York.) This is probably the oldest 

 fruit tree in America. About seventy years ago 

 the branches of the tree decayed and fell off: and 

 at that time it was supposed the tree was dying; 

 but, without any artificial means resorted to, new 

 shoots germinated and gradually supplied the roots 

 of their predecessors. The tree now is in full health 

 and vigour, and appears to be not more than thirty 

 years old; the fruit ripens the latter part of Au- 

 gust, has a rich succulent flavour, and has been 

 known by the name of the spice pear. (New York 

 Evening Post, May 4, 1820.) 



From the pear is prepared a pleasant liquor, 

 known under the name of perry, which is made in 

 the same manner as cider from apples. In Eng- 

 land, particular kinds of pears are cultivated for this 

 purpose, and the liquor is held in high estimation, 

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