376 



PEARS. 



ring of bark at its base, from beneath which the young shoots 

 will make their appearance. 



After this operation is finished, the wounds should be co- 

 vered with a small portion of well-beaten grafting clay, re- 

 duced into a paste with water, or with Mr. Forsyth's compo- 

 sition,* which is very excellent, and at the same time wash- 

 ing over with a brush both the head and the stem with the 

 same composition in a diluted state. 



When the young shoots make their appearance, they must 

 be allowed to grow till they are long enough to train, when 

 two of the most regular and best placed from each branch 

 cut down must be trained, and the others removed, cutting 

 them off close and smooth. 



If the branches headed down in the spring had been at 

 regular and proper distances from each other, two shoots 

 from each will be double the number subsequently required. 

 It is, however, necessary this number should be trained the 

 first year, as they will grow as strong, and extend quite as 

 far as if half the number only had been retained ; and it will 

 give an opportunity of selecting the best shoot of the two in 

 the winter pruning ; and in case of any accident happening 

 to one, the other will supply its place, so that a full number 

 of branches will thus be secured to furnish every part of the 

 tree. 



This being accomplished, the branches must be continued 

 at their full length, as before directed, and the superfluous 

 shoots and spurs treated accordingly. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



It is evident that Pear Trees are more tender than they 

 are generally imagined to be, and the cause of their decay in 

 sections of the country at some seasons more than others 

 may be attributed to a mild protracted autumn, succeeded 

 by severe cold weather. I have lost seedling Pears and 

 young Grape Vines by a frost in November, when at other 

 seasons they have stood the severity of a very cold winter 

 without injury. In the former instance the fall was mild, 

 warm, and protracted ; the stocks full of sap and vigorous ; 

 the frost came suddenly, and the young stocks were killed 

 almost to the bottom, apparently as tender as Geraniums. 

 In the latter case, the autumn came on gradually cold, the 

 wood ripened hard and firm ; and when winter set in, they 



* The preparation and application of this composition is given at the end of th ia 

 work. 



