286 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



the branches; but what is the value of unproductive 

 branches? Michael Morrah, Esq. of Worthing, made a 

 most satisfactory proof of the utility of ring barking, 

 having a large pear-tree in his garden which had never 

 even produced blossom. In the month of June 1820, he 

 took a ring of the bark from two principal branches, the 

 one of which extended to the east, the other to the west. 

 In the following spring these two branches were covered 

 with flowers, although no other part of the tree gave out 

 a single blossom. The author saw this tree in the autumn, 

 and counted thirty fine grown pears on one of the ringed 

 branches. Some gardeners have rejected the plan as 

 being unnatural, as if it was more unnatural to make a 

 tree fruitful by stopping the circulation of the sap, than 

 to make it productive by grafting. 



We have already noticed the necessity of watering 

 fruit-trees, and particularly recommend it to pear-trees 

 that have large crops on them, as it will both prevent 

 their falling off, and assist greatly in their size, for the 

 crops of standard trees cannot well be thinned. Wor- 

 lidge observes, that 



" The pear, when it has room enough to spread, 

 Where it has warmth sufficient over head, 

 If it be seconded by the wet ground, 

 With blossoms and swelling fruit will be crown'd." 

 The wet summer of 1821, alone would convince us 

 how much these trees are assisted in their crops by 

 moisture. The author had a trench thrown round a 

 standard pear-tree in his garden at Bayswater, for the 

 purpose of giving it water, but the season turning out 

 rainy made it unnecessary, and as the trench remained it 

 received a double portion, the result was that the tree 

 ripened a full crop, about half-matured a second crop, and 

 had its branches covered with white blossoms for the 

 third time in the month of November. 



