72 



SELECTION OF TREES. 



Particular attention should be paid to the health and vigor 

 of the trees to be planted. If selected from a nursery, those 

 trees only should be taken which have been planted a suffi- 

 cient distance from others to allow the proper growth of the 

 roots. The trees should be well shaped, and of vigorous 

 growth. Never jmrchase a pear tree which did not make a good 

 growth the preceding season. This is a most important rule, 

 but one rarely observed by purchasers of trees. Most people 

 who have not had experience in the culture of pear trees se- 

 lect large trees, with but little regard to the time they have 

 been growing, or to their health and vigor, as shown by their 

 recent growth. If trees that made but little growth the past 

 season are selected, the probability is that, with the best cul- 

 ture, they cannot be forced to a vigorous growth for years, if 

 indeed they ever can be. 



These directions are of the greatest importance to be ob- 

 served, and of course require that trees should be carefully 

 examined before they are purchased. Many persons contract 

 with agents of nurseries at a distance for their trees, and leave 

 to them the selection. If these agents, or their principals, are 

 honest, and furnish from the average growth of the nurseries, 

 a large portion will be unsuitable to plant, as in the best pear 

 nurseries in this country a considerable portion of the trees 

 are deficient in the requisites above stated ; and if dishonest, 

 as is not unfrequently the case, only refuse trees of stinted 

 growth will be furnished, which will not be worth the trouble 

 and expense of planting. Any one who desires good trees, 

 that will grow and be productive, should carefully examine 

 them before purchasing, or employ some suitable person to do 

 it for him. 



Trees on the pear root should have no limbs nearer than 

 four or five feet to the ground. Those on the quince root 

 should be trained with shoots from the stock as near the 

 ground as possible, as it is desirable they should be grown in 



