DIAGONAL CORDON. PEARS. 51 



Cordon training, and thrives best on the Diagonal plan. In 

 fact, there is really no other way of managing it, and the 

 forms in use are based on the same principles, only misunder- 

 stood; and this is tlie reason that pear trees bear well in 

 many localities, although our continental neighbors will not 

 believe it. The pear so naturally follows the system described 

 here, tliat it leads the pruner into it, do what he will. 



Many objections, too, having little real force in the case of 

 the peach, have none whatever in the case of the pear. 



It is a curious fact, that though the pear is confessedly a 

 most valuable fruit, and one so generally cultivated, its real 

 history is the least clearly ascertained. There is a quaint 

 tradition that the Sabines planted the Rousselet pear, on what 

 occasion is not said. The loss of their wives and daughters 

 would hardly be a suitable time for pear planting, unless it 

 was intended to console lost fair ones by reminiscences of 

 home, and "perry ; " for this ancient beverage is clearly al- 

 luded to by Pliny, who calls it " excellent." From the 

 Sabines we ascend through the dark ages, unillumined by 

 horticulture, to that period when St. Martin, the good bishop 

 of Tours, had the honor of having a pear named the " Bon 

 Chr(5tien," as a reward for his virtues. This is about all that 

 is really known about the history of this fruit. 



The pear accommodates itself to almost any shape, and 

 thus to describe and to practise Cordon training is equal- 

 ly simple. Choose for a Diagonal Cordon, young and straight 

 trees, of equal vigor, one year old from the graft, and, in Novem- 

 ber or later, lay them in against the wall, just as in peaches, at 

 the same intervals, — and also, the first year, at 60 or 70 de- 

 grees of inclination. But do not, as in the case of peaches, 

 cut off the laterals to two buds at planting, as the pear re- 

 quires all its foliage for the first year. Merely take off one 

 quarter of the extremities of the laterals. During the ensu- 

 ing summer encourage the growth of the leader, and pinch 

 in a little of the new wood on the laterals to equalize their 

 vigor. In October cut these laterals in to two buds, and re- 

 duce the length of the leader by one-third, above a healthy 

 front bud. 



