WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 77 



tiful that my taste inclines very strongly to those 

 forms of windbreaks that give more or less return of 

 fruit. It is amazing how large an amount of grapes 

 can be grown on a close row of deciduous trees, which 

 become interlaced with the vines. It is true that as 

 the vines climb higher much of the fruit will be out 

 of reach for easy gathering, and that very little 

 of it will be really marketable, but it is never out 

 of reach of the birds. In the orchard we also have 

 at hand an eminently fine tree for constructing fruit- 

 ful windbreaks I refer to the Buffum pear. This 

 tree grows almost as a counterpart of the Lombardy 

 poplar, erect, stiff and compact. It should never be 

 cut back at the top, for it has no capacity for lateral 

 growth. Set the trees about eight feet apart, arid 

 then let them take their own way. The result will 

 be a wall, as smooth and perfect as a trimmed hedge. 

 In blossom, the Buffum pear is simply superb, and 

 later it will be loaded with golden pears, which while 

 not first class are yet a very good second class. The 

 fruit is one of the best that we have for pickling, and 

 if picked before ripe becomes a very good dessert 

 pear. Let them begin to yellow before picking, and 

 then store or sell. The cropping power is astonish- 

 ing. After the pears are gone, and in the later sea- 

 son, the leaves become a brilliant crimson. Of all 

 lawn trees there are only two or three equal to the 

 Buffum pear in autumn coloring, and I do not know 

 one other pear that is equal to it. The leaves hang- 

 on until late, and a wall of them cannot be surpassed 

 for magnificence. If instead of a windbreak you 

 desire an avenue that shall be part shelter for your 

 drives the Buffum pear still surpasses all trees for 



