ON THE EARLY PUBERTY OF THE PEACH-TREE. 201 



trees, might there contribute to the formation of fruit buds. The lateral 

 shoots which were emitted near the tops of the young trees, when these 

 had attained the height of seven or eight feet, were in consequence only 

 shortened, the buds upon them being left, in the hope that some of them 

 would be converted into blossoms. 



The pots were filled with the green turf of the alluvial soil of a rich 

 meadow, which substance I had previously employed with much success 

 in similar experiments ; and the pots were three times changed during 

 the summer, and new portions of living turf added at the same periods. 



The summer, however, proved so cold and cloudy, that I relinquished 

 all hopes of success, proposing to repeat the experiment under less 

 unfavourable circumstances; and in consequence the artificial heat, 

 which I had intended to employ in Autumn, was not applied. I had, 

 nevertheless, the unexpected pleasure to observe, late in the autumn, 

 that three of the seven plants which had been the subjects of my experi- 

 ment, had formed blossom buds ; and these buds have subsequently 

 presented so vigorous and healthy a character, that I do not entertain 

 any doubt of their being capable of affording fruit. 



The narrative of the planter of New South Wales was therefore, I 

 conclude, perfectly correct ; and I think it not improbable, that by 

 shortening the lateral branches of his young plant, to give it a proper 

 form, he incidentally adopted very nearly the same mode of pruning, 

 which theoretical opinions pointed out to me as the best. 



XXVI. ON THE CULTURE OF THE PEAR-TREE. 

 [Read before the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, May 18th, 1813.] 



THE pear-tree exercises the patience of the planter during a longer 

 period before it affords fruit, than any other grafted tree which finds a 

 place in our gardens ; and though it is subsequently very long-lived, it 

 generally, when trained to a wall, becomes in a few years unproductive 

 of fruit, except at the extremities of its lateral branches. Both these 

 defects are, however, I have good reason to believe, the result of 

 improper management ; for I have lately succeeded most perfectly in 

 rendering my old trees very productive in every part ; and my young 

 trees have almost always afforded fruit the second year after being 

 grafted ; and none have remained barren beyond the third year. 



In detailing the mode of pruning and culture I have adopted, I shall 



