1891.] ESSAYS. ni 



If it becomes necessary to set the dwarf in a light soil tiie 

 conditions may be much improved by mixing a liberal quantity 

 of marl or peat mud with the soil to retain the moisture. 



In selecting dwarf trees select those budded close to the 

 crown of the roots and in setting let the soil cover the junction 

 of the pear and quince stocks, and as the pear is of larger 

 growth than the (|uince it will overlap forming a calhis from 

 which the more vigorous growing varieties will throw out roots, 

 eventually becoming standard trees ; and where it is desirable to 

 continue the dwarfs for a long time this may be more satisfac- 

 torily accomplished after the trees have become well established 

 by removing the soil in early summer around the trunk and 

 with a narrow gouge or knife raising narrow strips of the 

 bark in the callus and pressing in a little earth between the 

 bark and the wood, replacing the earth around the tree and 

 mulching to prevent the soil becoming dry ; the descending sap 

 later in the season will throw out roots from the lips, thus form- 

 ing a well distributed set of pear roots. By this process the 

 early bearing of the dwarf is secured and the longer life of the 

 standard, though smaller in size ; the growth being checked by 

 the early fruiting. 



As the pear is largely used as a dessert fruit (though the de- 

 mand is constantly increasing for canning purposes) a wider 

 range of varieties is desirable than of the apple. For market 

 the Bartlett, Seckel, Sheldon, Bosc, Dana's Hovey, Clairgeau, 

 Angouleme, Anjou and Vicar will be found desirable varieties. 

 For the amateur the above list with the exception of Clairgeau 

 to which may be added Summer Doyenne, Gifford, Clapp's 

 Favorite, Rostiezer, Urbaniste, Hardy, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 

 Comice, Lawrence and Josephine of Malines. There are many 

 other varieties of excellent quality and desirable under favor- 

 able conditions but the above list will be found reliable under 

 ordinary cultivation. The Angouleme, Clairgeau, Louise Bonne 

 of Jersey, Urbaniste and Vicar should be grown on the quince 

 stock. 



The pear suffers less from insect pests than any of our fruits, 

 there is a slug that occasionally appears on the leaves between 



