238 Pears. 



The result is not always the same in different soils and in diffeient 

 seasons. The Seckel, for instance, has wholly failed in one year, 

 and in another, on the same spot of ground, has grown well. The 

 White Doyenne* grew finely one summer, and almost totally failed 

 the next. Some sorts which in nearly all cases do well, occasionally 

 prove unsuccessful. A few, uniformly, in all seasons and in all soils, 

 make a rapid and vigorous growth, of which the Louise Bonne of 

 Jersey is perhaps the most striking example ; some others, again, 

 invariably fail (unless double-worked), the most prominent among 

 which stands the Beurrd Bosc. Indeed, so averse is this variety 

 to a union with the quince, that it is by no means certain that it 

 may not soon fail if worked in whatever manner. In some places, 

 however, double-working has given it smooth and fair fruit where it 

 has been cracked and blighted on the pear. Both this and the 

 Flemish Beauty, as well as the Marie Louise, and some others, suc- 

 ceed well when grafted on the hawthorn. 



The changes wrought by the quince stock are often important 

 and interesting. T. Rivers states that the Beurre' d'Aremberg ripens 

 several weeks earlier in winter ; that the Easter Beurrd is rendered 

 more productive and matures its fruit, while on the pear it is a bad 

 bearer, and does not ripen ; that the Fortune'e is a "perfect crab" 

 upon the pear, but on the quince is melting and juicy ; that the 

 Glout Morceau is imperfect and ripens badly on the pear, but is 

 always fair and attains a high and mature flavor on the quince. As 

 a general effect, the size of the fruit is increased, but in a few cases 

 it is rendered more gritty in texture. 



Pruning Dwarf Pears. Dwarf pear trees are usually pruned 

 into the pyramidal and conical form, the latter differing only in its 

 broader shape. The principle to be adopted in pruning has been 

 already explained on a former page ; the extent to which it must be 

 carried, should be such as to keep the trees within ten or twelve 

 feet in height, and six or seven feet in diameter at the base. A 

 greater height increases the difficulty of pruning. The same reason 

 forbids the adoption of a head with a clean stem below, as in com- 

 mon standards. 



The pyramidal mode of pruning may be applied to pear trees upon 

 pear stocks. Dwarf trees may be planted from ten to twelve feet 

 apart. They will always need careful attention to pruning, and to 

 thorough and enriched cultivation of the ground. 



In planting out the dwarf pear, the quince stock should be planted 

 a little below the surface to elude the borer, which often attacks the 

 quince, but rarely the pear. It is sometimes planted deeper for the 



