CULTIVATION OF FRUIT 277 



roots of this stock are able to find moisture and nourishment at a dis- 

 tance never reached except by roots of the Quince. The Quince stock 

 tends to dwarf trees grafted upon it, and to bring them into bearing 

 earlier ; the roots are small and fibrous those of the Pear are long and 

 comparatively destitute of fibres and remain near the surface of the 

 ground. It will be therefore understood that in a shallow soil, or one 

 of which the subsoil is unfavourable, such a stock would be decidedly 

 preferable. If, however, the cultivator purchases his trees from a reli- 

 able nurseryman, which is far more profitable and satisfactory than pro- 

 pagating oneself, they will, of course, be grafted and properly established 

 upon their respective stocks. 



Standard Trees, usually planted on grass land, or land that is not 

 tilled with the spade, are invariably grafted upon the Pear stock. 

 Pyramids, bushes, espaliers, &c., for planting in cultivated garden soil, 

 are grafted on the Quince. They do not grow so large as Standard 

 trees, and are therefore suitable for small gardens. 



Pyramid. The Pyramid Pear tree should have an upright central 

 stem, and horizontal branches emanating from it, and gradually diminish- 

 ing in size and length towards the apex of the tree. It is necessary that 

 this should be so, for the sap naturally rushes in the first place to the 

 top, and if this were not restricted in some way the base of the tree 

 would be left uncared for, and probably die away. The tree also would 

 be unfruitful; at the upper part, because of an excess of vigour, re- 

 sulting in gross shoots, and lower down because of weakness and want 

 of nourishment. The equalisation of the flow of sap to all parts is an 

 important consideration in the training of fruit trees, and should con- 

 stantly be kept in mind as an aid to fruitfulness. If Pyramid Pear 

 trees are grafted on the Quince stock, they may be planted about six 

 feet apart, but if on the Pear stock, they should not be closer together 

 than nine feet or ten feet. 



Bush. The Bush form, a somewhat similar kind of tree, has no 

 strictly upright central stem ; its primary branches originate within a 

 few inches of the ground to where the central stem was cut back during 

 the formation of the young tree. These branches, from which others 

 are also developed, after spreading horizontally so as to form, as it were, 

 a cup-shaped base, grow perpendicularly. A large number of Bush trees 

 may be cultivated in a small space, as they need not be planted more 

 than five feet or six feet apart. 



Standards. Standard Pear trees are almost invariably grafted upon 

 the Pear stock, and, as has been mentioned, are usually planted on grass 

 land. As is the case of Standard Apple trees, bush fruits, such as 

 gooseberries and currants, may be grown underneath. The clear stem of 

 Standard trees, before branches are formed, is, as a rule, about six feet 

 from the ground. The primary branches originate in the same way as 

 with the Bush tree, but they are allowed to grow more freely, no parti- 

 cular shape or form being aimed at. The branches, of course, are not 

 permitted to grow in all directions, or to crowd each other, but the head 

 of a Standard tree has no distinct design as in the case of Bush and 

 Pyramid. 



