REQUISITES TO PEAR CULTURE. 59 



If you wish a fine almond flavor, plant the Abbott ; if the de- 

 cided taste of cinnamon, then secure the Mt. Vernon ; or if you 

 are inclined to the rose-water, turn to the Urbaniste, and so we 

 could go on through a long list. 



What more pleasant to the eye than trees bending beneath 

 their load of fruit, touched with golden, red or russet hues such 

 as no artist's hand can reach ? — rich as the choicest fruits of 

 Eden, fruits fit for the gods. The tropics boast their cooling 

 fruits which nature gives in wonderful profusion, but none more 

 pleasant than those ive gather beneath these northern skies. If 

 these things add so much to our enjoyment, then let us have 

 them in abundance, as we may. It is not alone the satisfaction 

 of eating' the pears, but the still higher one of raising them, of 

 studying the varying forms, color and peculiarities of each vari- 

 ety, the habits of the trees, time of ripening, and many other 

 things that go to make an orchard a school, where many lessons 

 may be learned. The more we study nature, in whatever form 

 presented, the more the love of it grows upon us. 



The time was when it was thought difficult to raise pears, but 

 latterly they have been as sure a crop as that of apples, and we 

 believe they can be raised and sold at a much less price than 

 they are now selling for, and pay a profit. Greater care should 

 be exercised in the selection of a site for a pear orchard than is 

 needed for the apple. The trees seem to flourish well on a heavy 

 soil, whether of clay or loam, but all lands devoted to pear culture 

 should be well drained and thoroughly trenched or ploughed. 

 We regard trenching as the best, but it is expensive work to do. 

 Deep ploughing answers a very good purpose, and does not cost 

 one-tenth as much ; yet it will be found, in ten years, that the 

 difference is greatly in favor of those trees set on the trenched 

 land. 



When the land is so treated, it needs to be heavily dressed, 

 especially where dwarf trees are to be planted. Our rule is to 

 keep the trees growing vigorously imtil they have attained con- 

 siderable size and commenced bearing. 



We should prefer to plant mostly standard trees, for they will 

 live longer, and give, in the long run, better results. Trees two 

 or three years old from the bud or graft are the most to be pre- 

 ferred, though we have transplanted them twenty-five feet ia 

 height, and had them do very well, and give a fair crop of fruit 



