ROOT PRUNING. 15 



gardener that can do this, nor is it always required in 

 the south of England, except for small gardens and 

 in rich moist soils, in which pear trees are inclined 

 to grow too vigorously. But with our too often cool 

 moist summers in the northern counties, annual root- 

 pruning is quite necessary to make the trees produce 

 well-ripened wood. In other cases, as I have before 

 observed, shortening the shoots in summer, taking 

 care to produce a handsome pyramidal form, and if 

 they are inclined to grow vigorously, biennial root- 

 pruning will be quite sufficient. 



The following will be found a good selection of 

 varieties for pyramidal trees on quince stocks. They 

 may be planted in rows, five to six feet apart, or a 

 square may be allotted to them, giving each plant five 

 or six feet, which will be found amply sufficient for 

 root-pruned trees. Some few esteemed sorts of pears 

 do not grow well on quince stocks, unless " double- 

 grafted " i. ., some free-growing sort is budded on 

 the quince, and after having been suffered to grow for 

 one or two seasons, the sort not so free-growing is 

 budded or grafted on it. For ten varieties, placed in 

 the order of their ripening, the undermentioned may 

 with safety be recommended. 1 (In the following lists^ 

 varieties marked thus * may be chosen by those who 

 require only a few trees.) 2 



1. Summer Doyenne* July 



2. Beurr6 Giffard August 



3. Bon Chretien (Williams 1 )* September 



1 All the varieties recommended for pyramids may also be planted as espaliers 

 to train. to rails in the usual mode. 



2 A very good light permanent label for pyramidal and other fruit trees, is a 

 a small piece of zinc, painted with white-lead paint, and written on while moist 

 with a strong black-lead pencil. It should be suspended from a side branch of the 

 tree (not the stem) by a piece of stout copper wire. 



2 



