PEAR TREE. 



PEAR TREE. 



well on a strong clay, which is considered un- 

 suitable to those on quinces and wildings. But 

 they are supposed to have an unfavourable in- 

 fluence upon the fruit, in rendering it small 

 and hard. The following observations relating 

 to the pear tree, its fruit, diseases, and insect 

 enemies, are from the New American Orchardist, 

 by Mr. Kenrick, whose list of fruits is valuable. 



By grafting or inoculating on the quince, 

 pear trees come much sooner into bearing, 

 their productiveness is increased, the good 

 quality of the fruit is not changed, but the size 

 and longevity of the tree are diminished. Such 

 pear trees are termed dwarfs. This mode is 

 extensively adopted in France ; but all kinds 

 of pears will not grow on the quince stock. 

 Those dwarfs trained in the form of a distaff, 

 are called in that country Qucnouilles. 



The pear tree is of an extreme hardihood, 

 exceeding that of the quince, and is seldom 

 annoyed by the borer. The quince, when ex- 

 posed, is liable to danger from the borer in the 

 same degree as the apple tree. Their attacks 

 always commence in the parts exposed above 

 ground, or at the surface of the earth, and never 

 beneath. In transplanting the pears, therefore, 

 the quince stock must always be completely 

 buried more than an inch beneath the soil. 

 Thus situated and protected, the quince stock, 

 from its nature, will strike root suddenly, new 

 and numerous roots being produced on all 

 sides, quite to the junction of the pear. Such 

 is the mode adopted in practice by S. G. Per- 

 kins, Esq., and by other experienced cultiva- 

 tors, for the complete protection of the quince 

 stock from all dangers of every kind. 



Soil and Distance. The pear flourishes in 

 rich soils and gentle declivities ; they will suc- 

 ceed in the most common, deep, dry soil, and 

 throw out numerous lateral shoots. But they 

 do not flourish in moist situations ; in a cold, 

 strong, moist soil, with a clayey subsoil, they 

 throw out very few lateral roots, the fruit is not 

 so fair, or of so good a quality, and the trees 

 are not so long-lived. They will even grow in 

 poor soils, and in the clefts of rocks. 



With respect to distance, the same observa- 

 tions to be found under the head of APPLE may 

 here apply. But the pear, from its pyramidal 

 form, requires much less space. 20 feet, in 

 suitable soils, is a good distance ; but less 

 answers in poorer soils. Quenouilles are found 

 to answer even at 4 or 5 feet distance, pro- 

 ducing large crops ; and, as they occupy 

 but little space, and come suddenly into bear- 

 ing, they are, for profit, extensively cultivated 

 in France. The specimen pear trees at the 

 Jardin du Roi, or Garden of Plants at Paris, 

 in the autumn of 1840, were under the par- 

 ticular care and management of Mons. Dal- 

 bret, the pupil of Thouin, and himself the 

 author of a most valuable work on pruning. 

 These trees were kept in the most perfect Q-nc- 

 nouillc or pyramidal form, from the summit 

 quite down to the ground, by the system of short 

 or spur pruning; and although at the distance 

 of but about 7 feet asunder, yet they appeared 

 to have ample space, and bore most abundant 

 crops. But M. Dalbret then stated that 10 feet 

 was the most suitable distance. In the climate 

 882 



| of the United Stales, and with more heat and 

 J sunshine, and finer skies, less distance might 

 suffice. Pears produced on quince stocks are 

 found to be much improved in flavour; all but 

 some particular winter kinds, which are said 

 in some cases to become worse. 



The young, luxuriant shoots of the pear tree, 

 by being bent downwards, generally produced 

 the finest possible bearing wood for the second 

 year; and, by grafting on the quince, and bend- 

 ing the branches, fruit may be produced from 

 a seedling pear in the third or fourth year from 

 the seed, which, in the common course, would 

 require from 7 to 14 years. That system of 

 rendering trees productive is fully described in 

 Mr. Kenrick's Orchardist. He believes it to be 

 the best system of all others. 



As to standards, very little other pruning is 

 necessary, except taking out those fe~v limbs 

 that interfere in keeping the tree well ba- 

 lanced. 



The blight, or, as it is sometimes called, fire- 

 blight, is a malady which sometimes affects the 

 pear tree during the months of June and July, 

 causing the tree, or a portion of its branches, 

 suddenly to turn black, with a mortal affection ; 

 its leaves wither at once, as by a stroke of the 

 sun, and in a few hours become of a brown or 

 black colour. Mr. Lowell is of opinion that 

 this disease is caused by an insect called the 

 Scolytus pyri. He observes, " On the first ap- 

 pearance of this disease, I instantly sawed off 

 all the limbs affected, and proceeded to exa- 

 mine them. I found at last the enemy, not at 

 the point where death ensued, but some inches 

 below it. The insect was very small, and ap- 

 parently incapable of such extensive mischief; 

 but the effect was certain, and the manner of 

 producing that effect was obvious. It had eaten 

 a complete circle of the alburnum, or sap-wood, 

 not exceeding the size of a knitting-needle, so 

 as completely to intercept the passage of the 

 sap." This insect was shown by Mr. Lowell 

 to the late Professor Peck, and in the account 

 of the insect which was soon after published 

 in the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository, the 

 professor observed, that the mischievous effects 

 of this insect may be observed in June and 

 July, and that the dead part of the branches 

 should be cut off without delay and burned. 

 Mr. Lowell has stated (New England Farmer, 

 vol. v. p. 2), that by steadily pursuing the sys- 

 tem of cutting off the limbs many inches below 

 the apparent injury, and burning them, the in- 

 sects have been extirpated from his estate. 



The account of Professor Peck was repub- 

 lished in the New England Farmer, vol. ii. p. 42. 

 Some writers have attributed this disease to a 

 stroke of the sun; others attribute it to manur- 

 ing too high; some to excessive moisture at 

 the roots, and too much pruning, which is sup- 

 posed to cause a surfeit and produce a stagna- 

 tion. But all agree that the only remedy is to 

 saw off the limb. (Kenrick's Jim. Orchardist.) 



Some years ago, it was ascertained that a 

 species of JEgeria inhabited the pear tree in the 

 State of Massachusetts, and it is said that con- 

 siderable injury has resulted from it. An in- 

 fested tree may be known by the castings thrown 

 out of the small perforations made by the borers 



