THE ROSE, POME, AND DRUPE FAMILY. 487 



impossible to overrate the importance of exercising the greatest 

 care in the choice of eyes. Whilst admitting that the method 

 adopted by M. Jourdain is worthy of all praise, it may be re- 

 marked that it would be preferable if the variety chosen fol- 

 lowed upon the second tier of branches placed upon the Cure, 

 and was allowed to complete the shape of the tree. It is to 

 be feared that, as often happens, the sap, flowing towards the 

 centre of the tree, may weaken the lower tiers, and it would 

 be better to place, for the formation of the last tier, a graft of 

 a very productive but weak-growing variety. Experience has 

 shown that the balance of certain forms may, by this means, 

 be easily maintained. 



Lindley remarks that in the Pear the fruit becomes lighter- 

 coloured and smaller on the Quince stock ; but this can only 

 be on poor soils ; while on the Medlar stock this difference in 

 size and colour is more apparent still, and in these two instances 

 the ascent and descent of the sap is obstructed by the Quince 

 more than by the Wild Pear or free stock, and by the Medlar 

 more than either ; and he adds that similar effects are produced 

 in the Apple by the Paradise and Siberian Bitter-sweet stocks ; 

 but, as we have already observed, dwarfing stocks like those 

 just named are most useful on rich deep soils ; while on poor 

 soils, the robust, strong-rooting, or invigorating stocks are best. 



Nearly every man who has now an orchard of Pears would 

 like to change some of his trees for other sorts. Fortunately 

 the operation of regrafting is remarkably simple and easy with 

 Pear-trees, and by the insertion of twenty grafts, more or less, 

 on each tree, properly distributed, a new and perfect bearing 

 head may be obtained in two or three years. Instead, there- 

 fore, of digging up and throwing out such trees as do not bear 

 good Pears, and leaving undesirable vacancies where they 

 stood, they are readily changed to the very best. The first 

 thing to do, after having secured the grafts, is to prepare the 

 trees for regrafting, by trimming the branches, and cutting out 

 any not wanted where they happen to be too thick. Then cut 

 them off so as to form a regular pyramid, by leaving the bottom 

 ones longest, and gradually tapering to the top. This opera- 

 tion can be extended over two or three years, if desirable, so 

 as to secure fruit off the old tree until the new grafts come into 

 bearing. If the branches are small, they may be whip-grafted ; 

 but usually they will be much too large, and will require cleft- 

 grafting. We have seen large numbers of dwarf Pear-trees, 

 which were eight or nine years old when worked over, that in 

 three years were as perfect trees and as abundant bearers as 

 those which had not been thus changed. 



