PEAR ORCIIAUDS. GO 



well done is twice clone," and so, the field properly worked is not pre- 

 pared only for one or two years, but for a life-time. Now, if the soil 

 can be loosened to the depth of eighteen or twenty inches or more, and 

 we think in the majoriry of cases it may be, it should by all means bo 

 done ; for, a hole dug in the earth, especially where the soil is of close 

 texture, is a cistern ; this being filled with fine loam, or compost, re- 

 tains the water, and when it becomes stagnant, it has* an injurious ef- 

 fect upon the roots. Hence the tree becomes less and less valuable, 

 until it is the cause of absolute injury. If the hole is deeper than the 

 rest of the field is loosened, the lower part of it will retain the water, 

 and cause an unhealthy action upon the roots in it ; but if the earth is 

 loosened over the whole field as low as the bottom of the hole, the stag- 

 nant water will flow off. 



SELECTION OF TREES. 



In selecting trees^for transplanting, an eye should be had to the di- 

 ameter of the iree, instead of the height. Choose those that have made 

 their last year's growth stochj, without regard to height ; yet, when a 

 nursery-man, or troe-peddler is making his yearly visits in taking or- 

 ders, when inquired of in regard to size, he will at once speak of their 

 great height, which, in our estimation, instead of being a very good 

 recommendation, is a very weak one, and should not be regarded a 

 safe rule by the planter. Trees of stocky growth, and well supplied 

 with good roots, are of more consequence than long, slender stems, 

 even v/ith good heads. 



MANURING AND MULCHING. 



Says Mr. Quinn, — " There is no part of the work of Pear-growing 

 so little understood as that of furnishing the proper kind of manure, 

 and in the right direction. Young Pear-trees are often killed by over 

 kindness in placing large quantities of coarse, strong, unfermented 

 manure in the holes at the time of planting, and around the bodies of 

 the trees. It should be distinctly understood that both of these prac- 

 tices are likely to be an injury to the welfare of young trees. It is ad- 

 mitted that unfermented manure of any kind should not come in con- 

 tact with a young tree." 



Says Mr. Barry, — " Every garden should have its manure heap 

 in such condition that in the fall, or spring, when it comes to be used, it 

 will cut WkQ paste: In that state only is it safe to apply it. All parts of 

 it then are thoroughly decomposed ; all seeds of noxious weeds are then 

 dead, and it is in condition capable of yielding at once to theroots of grow- 

 ing plants healtby nutrition that will produce a vigorous, sound and 

 /n«V/?«/^rMr^/i, and this is precisely what is wanted ; far better to 

 have a young tree starved and stunted, than forced into a rank and 

 plethoric growth with crude, ill-prepared manure. We presume that 

 what the Nomologists would be understood to mean in this connection 

 in regard to green, unfermented manure is, that it should not be used 



