Pear Stock, vs. Quince Stock. 339 



tenacious of life, and quite impossible on account of the leaf 

 blight to g-row in the United States. Hence nurserymen soon 

 discovered that their interests and profits would be advanced by 

 proclaiming the superiority of quince stocks. Amateurs, eager 

 and thoughtless, disregardless of the consequences, Avere in- 

 duced to chaunt the praises of quenouiles, until quite sensible folk 

 came to the conclusion that Nature was in error, and was about 

 being corrected in those charming pyramids that present their 

 fruit offerings just on a level with one's nose. 



Quince Pear trees became the rage. i\jnateiirs planted them, 

 because a great many varieties coiild be grown and tested on a 

 small piece of ground ; farmers were highly delighted, because 

 they got fruit in two or three years from planting. Everybody 

 planted dwarfs, and, of course, everybody expected to realize a 

 fortune from dwarfs. After a time it came to be known that 

 many kinds of pear had a limited existence on the quince roots, 

 not unfrequcntly " going off" after bearing a single crop. This 

 gave rise to many lengthened discussions relative to the average 

 length of time a quince pear tree would survive, which was even- 

 tually determined to be about eighteen years. The various con- 

 troversies which ensued respecting the comparative value of 

 dwarfs for market purposes were mostly carried on between 

 parties who had trees for sale, and who, in consequence, were 

 favorably inclined to their universal dissemination. Under 

 such circumstances, it is not wonderful that no individual could 

 be mustered who had suflScient courage ,to express himself can- 

 didly — to boldly stand out from the throng — and declare the fact, 

 that, although dwarfs were very fine, they were immeasurably in- 

 ferior to standards, and to the unskilled grower, for market — 

 sources of more vexation than emolument — that their real value 

 was on a " par" with the Mahaleh for cherries, or the Doucain for 

 apples. Tens of thousands, nay millions of dwarf pears have 

 been planted in the last five years ; many of these have already 

 ceased to exist, others are pictures of feebleness, their sclerotic 

 foliage, as bestirred by the passing breeze, sing their exequial 

 hymn. A few, in propitious localities, and benefitted by good 

 cultivation, are in a luxuriant and fruitful condition. 



The very principle of dwarfing a tree may be interpreted 

 to sicken it. The process pursued is to offer just sufficient food 



