350 THE NEW GARDENING 



these spurs, the early years of growth being given up to 

 making growth and ripening the wood. When, however, 

 the trees are put on the Quince stock (with or without 

 double working as aforesaid), and when they are summer 

 pinched or pruned in the manner described in the second 

 chapter of the present section, the case is wholly different ; 

 indeed, if four-year-old cordons are bought fruit spurs 

 will be found ready formed on them as a result of the 

 treatment to which the nurseryman has subjected them. 



As cordon Pears require skilled management in their 

 early stages I am not disposed to advise amateurs to 

 buy very young trees. A three-year-old is the youngest 

 that they should get. Such a tree should not be fruited 

 the first year after planting, but if fruits set they should 

 be picked off. The side shoots should be summer pinched 

 or pruned in the manner advised in the preceding chapter, 

 and the tree is almost certain to form buds for bearing 

 the following year. 



An amateur who is very desirous of showing how 

 completely modern pomological science has falsified the 

 old rhyme " Plant Pears, plant for your heirs " might 

 spend another shilling or so per tree and get four- 

 year-olds. If they are bought from a good nursery they 

 will be six to nine feet high, and have from six to ten 

 fruiting spurs. As the wood is mature there is no reason 

 why these should not be allowed to develop into fruit in 

 the ensuing season, but if the Pears come very thickly 

 they should be thinned to one per spur, and not more 

 than six kept in all, except in the case of particularly 

 productive sorts like Fertility and Conference, which 

 may be left thicker. With care in avoiding over-cropping, 

 and with proper summer pruning, the trees will have no 

 difficulty in developing fine fruits and still forming 

 bloom-buds for the following year, Even in the^first 



