252 Editors Letter- Box. 



W. S. L., Fostoria, O. — Will you do me the favor to answer the following 

 questions ? — 



1st, Will dwarf pears generally form standard trees ? and how much below the 

 surface should the point of union be planted to secure this result ? 



2d, What kinds are most likely to make standards if planted for that purpose ? 



3d, If the dwarf becomes a standard, what eflect does that have on the fruit 

 if the quince-roots remain vigorous ? 



4th, Are such trees as liable to the blight as pear-trees on their own stock ? 



A large part of the dwarfs will make roots from the pear if pains are taken to 

 secure such a result. To succeed well, the bud should be planted some two inches 

 below the surface ; and, when such roots are desired, scrape away the earth, and 

 cut up the bark just above the union-point very much as you would cut a carna- 

 tion-pink when you are to layer it. Little roots will soon be formed that will 

 develop into very large ones. 



The most vigorous sorts are the most likely to make roots from the pears, 

 such as Vicar of Winkfield and Louise Bonne de Jersey. 



Soon after the tree is well rooted from the pear, the quince-root decays. We 

 are not aware that there would be much difference in the fruit, except that it 

 often happens that higher-colored fruit is obtained from dwarf trees than from 

 standards. > 



We cannot see why they are not just as liable to the blight as though grown 

 originally on the pear-root. We have never seen so much blight among dwarfs 

 as among standards ; but when the quince-root is decayed, and the tree has be- 

 come a standard, it is just as liable to the blight as any other standard. We 

 do not believe in changing dwarfs in this way. They do not generally make good 

 roots, but only one or two very large ones, sometimes larger than the tree itself, 

 that run only in one direction ; so that when full of fruit or leaves, and there 

 comes a heavy wind, the trees are often blown down. We believe the better way 

 is, if you want standards, plant them ; and, if dwarfs, plant them. Some years ago, 

 we visited a very fine orchard of dwarfs, and saw here and there a tree that showed 

 signs of unusual vigor, and, on inquiry, was told by the owner that it had made 

 roots from the pear : and he was very sorry, tor he should have to dig them up ; 

 for they were good for nothing as soon as they ceased to be dwarfs. He 

 spoke of the bad kind of roots they made, and their liability to be blown over 

 and destroyed by the wind. 



S. F. T. writes from Hannibal, Mo., "that he has no trouble from mildew 

 on his grape-vines, or rot among his grapes. He selects a piece of ground having 

 good natural drainage, prepares the land by ploughing or stirring it to the depth 

 of fifteen inches, and sets the vines. Ploughs or digs rather deeply among the 

 vines in spring, and cultivates lightly through the summer to kill weeds and keep 

 the surface loose. Does all the summer-pruning before the middle of July." 



[Tills looks easy enough, surely. We should object to the deep ploughing, 

 however ; for it cannot be done without injury to the roots of the vines. We use 

 a cultivator, and run it lightly in our vineyard. It would be better for the vines 

 to do the work by hand, using a fork with short tines. — Ed.] 



