FRUIT STOCKS 139 



PEARS 



The stock used in grafting the Pear is mostly raised from seed 

 gathered from the cider mills of France. This Pear is known as the 

 Perry Pear. Often seedlings of the Kieffer are used for stocks, for 

 these prove very blight resistant. Some stock is obtained from 

 Japan in which case the stocks are seedlings of the Chinese or Jap- 

 anese Sand Pear. Regarding the use of the latter Pear, Joseph 

 Meehan writes: 



"The Sand Pear and its offspring, the Le Conte, are found un- 

 suitable for using as stocks for ordinary Pears, much as they may 

 be desirable for the Kieffer, Garber and other kindred bloods. When 

 the ordinary Pears are worked on them they grow nicely for a year 

 or two, then almost cease growing and dwindle away. Whether 

 this is true, too, in respect to the Kieffer itself, when its seeds are 

 grown, is not so well attested. As it is a hybrid between the com- 

 mon Sand Pear and a common improved one, supposedly the 

 Bartlett, its seedlings may be better suited for stocks than pure 

 Sand Pear seedlings would be; still, those who have tried it do not 

 appear to consider it as good for their purpose as the common French 

 Pear stocks. Australian papers speak of the Kieffer seeds being 

 used by the nurserymen of that country at the present time. What 

 attracts those who use the seeds of the Sand Pear tribe, is, that the 

 seedlings are just the thing for stocks for the Kieffer, this latter 

 being popular everywhere as a profitable market Pear, and then 

 the vigorous growth of these seedlings would fit them for stocks for 

 all sorts of Pears could they be got to thrive on them." 



Dwarf Pears. Dwarf Pears are obtained by budding or grafting 

 on the Quince, the former method being preferred. Most Quince 

 stock is obtained from Angers, France. The Pear seems to produce 

 larger fruits when grafted on the Quince than it does on its own 

 roots. Peculiarly enough, the Quince is not successfully grafted 

 upon the Pear. 



The Kieffer Pear should not be dwarfed; it usually outgrows the 

 stock and results in a top-heavy tree. 



Relative to the use of new Pear stocks The Florists' Exchange 

 reports remarks by Dr. B. T. Galloway, who says that 



"At the Arnold Arboretum the Gallery ana Pear (Pyrus Gal- 

 lery ana), a native species from China and Japan, has proved quite 

 hardy for the past twelve years. Seedlings from this tree have been 

 tested as a grafting stock with considerable success. It resists fire 



