288 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



with principles that must ensure good fruits, " and give a 

 god-like joy/' to the world at large. 



" Catch then, oh catch, the transient hour, 



Improve each moment as it flies : 

 Life 's a short summer, man a flower ; 



He dies ; alas ! how soon he dies." 



Johnson. 



The pear-tree is liable to be much injured, if pruned 

 by those who do not understand the nature of it. The 

 blossoms are commonly produced from buds at the extre- 

 mity of the last year's shoots, and, as these are often cut 

 off by the unskilful pruner, it prevents their producing 

 fruit, and causes the boughs to send out new branches, 

 which overfill the tree with wood. The summer is the 

 best time to look over pear-trees, and to remove all super- 

 fluous and foreright shoots, which would too much shade 

 the fruit. If this be carefully done, they will require but 

 little pruning in the autumn. 



Pears that are to be kept for winter use, should hang 

 as long on the trees as the state of the weather will 

 allow. They should then be put in a heap, in an open and 

 dry situation, for about ten days ; then wiped dry with a 

 woollen cloth, and packed close from the air and moisture. 

 But to keep this fruit in its greatest perfection, small 

 earthen jars should be selected, about the size of the 

 pear, which should be packed separately in clean oat 

 chaff, and tied down with skin, or brown paper cemented 

 with pitch. These jars should then be packed in a chest, 

 or dry closet, with the bottom upwards. Pears are found 

 more generally productive when grafted on quince stocks, 

 than upon those of their own kind or the white thorn. 



The timber of the pear-tree is of a yellowish colour, 

 and is used for making carpenters' tools, measuring rulers, 

 picture-frames, and a variety of purposes. Gerard says, 

 " the timber of the wild pear is very firm and solid, and 



