77 



CHAP, XII. 



CORDON TRAINING IN PEAR TREES. 



THIS most valuable fruit is a general favourite, 

 and requires a somewhat peculiar treatment, be- 

 cause it differs from the preceding, especially from 

 the peach, in this important particular, that as 

 soon as a fruitful spur is formed, there is no neces- 

 sity to renew it, it will last as long as the tree, 

 with due care. No alternation of bearing wood is 

 here needed, as in the peach, and therefore it is 

 the basis of a quite different treatment, which is 

 also applicable to the apple. 



The pear, however, resembles the peach and 

 nectarine in this respect : that it is equally suited 

 for the various forms of Cordon training, and 

 thrives best on the Diagonal plan. In fact there 

 is really no other way of managing it, and the 

 forms in use are based on the same principles, 

 only misunderstood ; and this is the reason that 

 pear trees bear well in many localities, although 

 our continental neighbours will not believe it. 

 The pear so naturally follows the system described 



