104 ESSAY ON PEAR TREES. 



If any one expects to be successful in growing pears by merely 

 turning up the sod, and forcing the roots of a young pear tree under 

 it, and then leaving it to bring itself up, he will probably be disap- 

 pointed in the results. It is universally acknowledged by fruit grow- 

 ers that trees need cultivation as much as root crops, and that it is 

 as important to keep down grasses and weeds around their roots, as 

 around the roots of the corn or potatoe. If any one expects good 

 fruit, he mast be willing to labor for it, — to select his soil with care, 

 prepare it for the young tree, and cultivate the ground under the 

 tree whilst growing. The Earth is a generous mother only to the 

 industrious. The experience of fruit growers in this country has 

 been ably and faithfully collated by Downing in his admirable work 

 on "Fruits and fruit trees of America," and in the numbers of his 

 Horticulturalist,* and very little additional information can be given, 

 except in the application of his theories to the growth of the pear in 

 this vicinity. Some of his suggestions may require slight modifica- 

 tions on account of the difference between the climate in Massachu- 

 setts, and New Jersey, or New York, yet very little that is new or 

 original can be expected upon the subject. 



Stocks for the Fear. The different stocks used for the cultiva- 

 tion of the pear, are the quince, white thorn, ash and pear, or free 

 stock. The quince and free stock are most common, although on the 

 ash the pear grows well, and is less liable to be injured by the frost 

 in the spring as the sap rises later. The quince stock answers well 

 for a very small garden, or when the cultivator wishes to obtain a 

 great variety, and but few of a kind, as the tree is always a dwarf, 

 but in large gardens the free stock is generally preferred. The 

 quince is short lived, not usually bearing more than ten or twelve 

 years, and is subject to attacks from the borer. Of free stocks, seed- 

 lings are much to be preferred to suckers. The latter are generally 

 deficient in roots, are longer in getting started, are less healthy, 

 and will when growing, throw up suckers from the rf)ots. 



Seeds from natural pears are more sure to vegetate, and produce 

 hardier stocks than those from grafted fruit. It is important also, 

 to select the seeds of large pears, as the stocks from them are more 

 thrifty, than those from the seeds of small ones. A friend informs 



* "The Horticulturalist and Journal of rural art and rural taste, edited by A. J. 

 Downing. Published by Luther Tucker at Albany, N. Y., and by Joseph Brcck & 

 Co ., Boston." It is a monthly periodical, well worihy encouragement. 



