CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR. 73 



should be carefully sifted around the small roots ; here lies the 

 great secret in transplanting trees of any kind — to have the 

 soil come firmly in contact with every root. Let each root 

 and fibre be straightened out with care, and good, rich, fine 

 soil be well worked in around them so that all the cavities 

 will be filled. When the soil has become sufiiciently dry, 

 press it down firmly with the foot. Never allow rank or 

 unfermented manure to come in contact with the roots, al- 

 though a good rich compost may be mixed with the loam at 

 transplanting. After the trees are set out, a very important 

 Item of after-culture is mulching, which is the preservation of 

 a proper degree of moisture in the soil surrounding the roots 

 of the tree. Any loose material will answer as mulch, such 

 as coarse manure, straw litter of any kind, or fresh-cut grass 

 — even old tan-bark or refuse charcoal-dust may be used. 



The mulch should not be applied till about the middle of 

 June, unless the weather proves very dry and hot previous to 

 that time, and on good clean ground it may remain during the 

 following winter. A good protection should be given every 

 fall ao;ainst the severities of winter. The clwaff-trees es- 

 pecially, need protection, as their roots are tender, and must 

 have winter covering. A barrow-ioacl of manure placed 

 around each tree is a sufiicient protection against mice and 

 extreme cold. 



A word as to the selection of trees. The best age for 

 transplanting is two or three years from the bud ; good, vigor- 

 ous, thrifty, well-rooted specimens should be taken. The 

 best distance to set the trees apart, is fifteen feet for standard 

 pears — if the orchard is to be wltolly standard trees — taking 

 one hundred and ninety-four trees for an acre; for dwaif 

 trees, eight feet apart, which will require six hundred and 

 eighty trees for an acre. But if the orchard is to contain 

 both kinds, the standard should be set twenty feet apart, with 

 the dwarfs equidistant l)etween, which will take four hundred 

 and thirty-five. The pear is eminently the tree for the pyra- 

 midal form, either on the free stock, or on the quince. On 

 the latter, however, the trees bear much earlier, are more pro- 

 lific, easier managed and consequently preferable for small 

 gardens. Many varieties, however, do not succeed on the 

 quince-root ; but still a large number of the delicious, melting 



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