74 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



varieties do, and produce a finer fruit on it, than on the free 

 stock. The tardiness of bearing of the pear-tree, when grown 

 in the ordinary standard form on free stock, has, more than 

 any other cause, retarded its general cultivation. No better 

 proof of this can be adduced than the general partiality now 

 shown for trees on quince stock that bear at the age of four or 

 five years. The introduction of the trees a few years ago, 

 was really the first thing that gave a general impulse to pear- 

 tree planting. With most people it is a very important thing 

 to obtain fruit in three or four years instead of waiting eight 

 or ten, as it generally takes about that time to bring trees on 

 free stocks into a bearing state, unless it be some remarkably 

 precocious variety. Therefore, those who wish pear-trees for 

 pyramids, that are easily managed and will bear early, should 

 select them on quince stocks, in case the varieties they wish 

 to cultivate have been proved to succeed well on it. 



Referring to the beauty of the tree, as to form or shape, 

 the pyramidal is the best. As for fine ornamental forms, 

 some varieties, such as Flemish Beauty, Lawrence, Buffum, 

 Barronne de Mello, Urbaniste and Howell, cannot well be ex- 

 celled, especially when the additional attraction of a fine crop 

 of fruit is taken into consideration. As to the mode of treat- 

 ment or 



CULTURE, 



the condition of the trees will indicate the treatment required. 



To cultivate or not, is to be determined by climate and con- 

 dition of soil, the chief object being to maintain health and 

 encourage fruitfulness. When the trees are young, the cul- 

 ture should tend to encourage a judicious growth ; our rule 

 is to keep the trees growing vigorously mitil they have at- 

 tained considerable size and commenced bearing. The trees 

 should receive a good, clean cultivation through the spring 

 and summer months, but not late in the autumn, as this is 

 conducive to late growth and unripened wood, which brings 

 disease and eventually death to the tree. The desideratum 

 in fruit-culture is well-ripened wood. All useful cultivation 

 begins and ends with this object in view, and it is the criterion 

 of good or bad management. 



When an ample, luxuriant growth is secured, all surface- 

 cultivation should be stopped ; the orchard laid down to grass ; 



