50 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



from the stem (say two feet), fastening a piece of sacking 

 loosely round the stem to prevent the band from chafing, 

 passing a soft rope round this band, and tying to each stake 

 in the following manner v \ /'the centre dot representing 

 the stem of the tree. ? We have seen young trees 

 almost barren rendered j abundantly fruitful the fol- 

 lowing season after having been shifted. Transplanting may 

 be done any time from May till August. A barrow load or 

 two of manure or litter spread round each shifted tree will 

 preserve the fibrous roots from being injured by drought or 

 hot winds ; in dry weather a few buckets of water occasion- 

 ally administered will be of benefit to the tree. This will 

 only be necessary in protracted droughts. 



Apples and Pears treated as Espaliers. This 



mode of growing fruit trees requires constant attention and 

 skill, it is therefore not suitable for amateur gardeners. A 

 trellis four to five feet high, foimed of battens, wire, or iron 

 rods will answer, placed along the side walks three or four 

 feet from the edging. To these the trees are trained as on 

 a wall, with this difference, that instead of being nailed, the 

 branches are usually tied ; the fastenings should be soft 

 hemp cords or strips of bass or native flax. In selecting 

 trees for espaliers it will be well to select those which have 

 been worked upon quince or some other slow-growing stocks. 

 Summer pruning and stopping is indispensable to successful 

 fruit growing under these conditions. 



The Pear. This delicious fruit does not receive the 

 attention it deserves in our gardens : the reason probably is 

 that it is rather longer in bearing than the apple. With 

 judicious treatment this may in a great measure be obviated. 

 Any good, dry soil will do for pears. By careful selection 

 the ripening period may be extended over several months. 

 The first point to consider is the stock upon which the pear 

 should be grafted. Considerable diversity of opinion exists 

 on this head, some recommending the quince, others again 

 condemning it, and preferring the pear stock. Our opinion 

 is that they are both good when the soil is suitable. The 

 pear stock produces a stronger growing tree and more 

 enduring than the quince ; but it is longer in coming into 



