PEAR TREE. 167 



In cutting down those shoots, prune them to 

 the lowest bud, if near their origin, otherwise 

 to about half an inch, in order to have new 

 spurs produced from them* 



If a Pear tree be in a weakly condition, 

 the branches must be trained in a more ele- 

 vated direction where it can be done. (See 

 the Chapter on sickly fruit trees.) 



Thinning the fruit will frequently be re- 

 quired, not only to cause that remaining to 

 be improved, but also to promote the future 

 vigour and fertility of the tree. The proper 

 time for performing this, is as soon as the 

 Pears begin to flesh. The quantity to be 

 left upon a healthy tree, may be two fruit to 

 every spur, and in some cases three. 



Pears must be always gathered by the 

 hand, and not be allowed to drop. Sum- 

 mer and autumn pears, must be gathered a 

 few days before they would become dead 

 ripe, as the flavour is then a great deal richer. 

 The proper time at which they must be 

 gathered, may be known by the change in 

 their colour, or by pulling a fruit and open- 

 ing it, and examining whether the seeds be 

 hard and of a brown or black colour ac- 

 cording to the sort of Pear ; or by some few 

 fruit naturally dropping off the tree. 



Summer Pears should be eat soon after 

 they are gathered, for in a week or fortnight 

 afterwards many of the kinds begin to decay 

 at the core. 



