THE PEAR. 45 



THE PEAE. 



Soil. The pear takes a deep clayey flinty soil, ratlier 

 cool, but not humid. In every case where this is not 

 the native character of the soil, it must be made so by 

 the mixture of other materials, and by digging to at 

 least a yard in depth. If the under soil is too damp, it 

 must be properly drained. 



Choice of Trees. If the pears be taken from the 

 nursery ready grafted, choose healthy vigorous trees of 

 one, or at least of two years' grafting. More aged ones 

 than these take root less freely, and their vegetation is 

 always retarded. The stocks might be planted in the 

 nursery for grafting them the year following, and plant- 

 ing them out where they are to remain the next year. 



Grafting. Pears are most frequently grafted upon 

 pear stocks obtained by sowing the pepins ; they are 

 also grafted upon quince stocks. The first produces 

 the most vigorous and durable trees, but the quince 

 stocks more rapidly come to fruit-bearing. 



We prefer pear stocks for dry and rather poor soils, 

 and quince for ground of richer and better quality. 

 The varieties that have a less vigorous habit should in 

 every case be planted upon pear stocks. We point out 

 which these are in the list on page 47. 



