310 THE PEAR. 



The propagating by grafting, budding, etc., is also the same in the 

 Pear as in the Apple, and usually performed at same season. The 

 remarks we made relative to root-grafting on pieces of roots are also 

 equally applicable to the Pear as the Apple. Some practice the 

 grafting on pieces of root, and plant deep to induce the rooting of 

 the Pear from the graft; this is easily done, but we see no advantage; 

 and our experience with trees, roots so formed, has not been favor- 

 able ; we have found the roots thrown from the Pear small and in- 

 sufficient to sustain the tree, while those of the old root, on taking 

 up, were diseased, apparently from some want of action in the circu- 

 lation of sap-vessels. 



Hardihood. The comparative hardihood of American over foreign 

 varieties has been much lauded, but as yet we do not think sustained 

 by experiment. Propagation on healthy or unhealthy stocks we 

 think has had more to do with it than aught else. Until within a 

 a few years past, most of the pears* worked on pear stocks in this 

 co-untry were on suckers, and this we imagine the foundation of 

 most said respecting the comparative hardihood of native over for- 

 eign varieties. 



Stocks and Adaptation of Trees grown thereon. Healthy seedling 

 pear stocks, usually two years old and about three-eighths to half an 

 inch diameter at crown, are regarded best for grafting on, while the 

 same left to grow until August, are usually suitable size for budding. 

 The quince, apple, thorn, and mountain ash, are all more or less used 

 for growing what are termed dwarf trees. Of these the quince is 

 best, thorn next, and apple the least desirable. Of the quince, seed- 

 lings are not desirable to use for this purpose, as they do not run even 

 in growth ; but cuttings grown from what is generally known as the 

 Anglers variety should be procured. The thorn and mountain-ash 

 are used often with advantage on dry gravelly or sandy soils, where 

 the quince roots do not appear as well suited. 



While a very large number of varieties will take, and grow for a 

 year or two finely, there are comparatively few that succeed for a 

 series of years in continued vigor and productiveness, when grown 

 on any stock but that of the pear ; and while the cultivation is now 

 very extensive on the quince root, we can not but fear that in eight- 

 tenths it will prove unprofitable to the grower ; and in the remaining 

 two-tenths, require equally as much care in supplying nutrition and 

 pruning, as a system of root pruning when grown on pear roots. 

 There are, however, some soa'ts of the fruit that seem improved by be- 

 ing worked on quince, as Duchesse d'Angouleme, Easter Buerre, etc., 

 and this is a strong item in favor of the quince stock ; and therefore, 

 while advising its use, we must not forget always to mention that 

 without careful and high culture the grower will meet disappointment. 

 About one hundred years may be taken as the natural duration of the 

 Pear on pear roots, when grown in soil supplied with the elements 



