125 



CHAPTER VIL 



OF PEARS. 



Differejit Sorts of Pears described. — Of Planting, Heading, 

 Pruning, S^c. — Experiments on old Trees. — A comparative 

 Statement of the Produce of Pear-Trees, by the old and new 

 Way of Pruning and Training. — Of Trees headed doiun. — 

 Remedy Jbr the Canker, Sfc. 



1 HE cultivation of the Pear is undoubtedly of 

 considerable antiquity ; for Pliny mentions no less 

 than twenty kinds, and Virgil five or six. 



Linnaeus arranges Pears along with Apples and 

 Quinces, in the Fourth Order of his Twelfth Class ; 

 Icosandria Pentagynia ; and is named Pyrus Com- 

 munis, 



The Pear-tree comprehends several varieties ; 

 ripening in succesive order from July to October. 



The Pears commonly propagated in England are as Jbllovo : viz. 



1. Little Musk Pear. Duham, w. 1. LI, 

 Pom, Aust, t,71, J\l,y commonly called the Su- 

 preme, This fruit, when ripe, is of a yellow colour; 

 the juice is somewhat musky ; and if gathered be- 

 fore it be too ripe, it is a good Pear. It ripens 

 about the latter end of July, and continues good 

 only a few days. 



