2 THE MINIATURE FEUIT GARDEN. 



stocks are strictly garden trees, and not adapted for 

 orchards. 



The most eligible season for planting pyramidal 

 pear trees is during the months of November and De- 

 cember, but they may be planted even until the end 

 of March ; in planting so late, no fruit must be ex- 

 pected the first season. Still, I ought to say here that 

 I have frequently removed pear trees on the quince 

 stock in March and April just as the blossom-buds 

 were bursting, and have had fine fruit the same sea- 

 son, particularly if sharp frosts occurred in May. The 

 buds being retarded, the blossoms opened after the 

 usual period, and thus escaped. The experiment is 

 quite worth trying in seasons when the buds swell 

 very early. 



If root-pruned pyramidal trees be planted, it will 

 much assist them if about half the blossom-buds are 

 thinned out with a penknife just before they open ; 

 otherwise these root-pruned trees on the quince stock 

 are so full of them that the tree receives a check in 

 supporting such an abundance of bloom. About ten 

 or fifteen fruit may be permitted to ripen the first 

 season ; the following season two or three dozen will 

 be as many as the tree ought to be allowed to bring to 

 perfection ; increasing the number as the tree increases 

 in vigor, always remembering that a few full-sized 

 and well- ripened pears are to be preferred to a greater 

 number inferior in size and quality. 



In the engraving at the commencement of this little 

 volume I have given a faithful portrait of a pyramidal 

 tree of the Beurre de Capiaumont pear, budded on 

 the quince : this was taken in 1846 ; the tree was then 



