PEA 



3 



FED 



mence by disbudding ; this is generally 

 in tbe beginning of May. All gross/w?- 

 right shoots :i.w stripped away, and seve- 

 ral of the more luxuriant shoots, where 

 too thick. In a few weeks the shoots 

 begin to lengthen considerably, and 

 their character, as to fraitfulness, is 

 in some degree determinable. Very 

 few of our pears bear on wood of the 

 previous year, but a great many shoots 

 plainly show betimes that their tenden- 

 cies are towards fructification ; such 

 should, by all means, be encouraged. 

 About Midsummer, a selection may 

 be made ; most of those which look 

 browner than the rest, and are shorter 

 jointed, must be reserved; and much 

 of the paler, longer jointed, and more 

 succulent-looking spray may be cut or 

 pinched back, leaving about four inches 

 at the base. Those reserved, we tie 

 down to the older branches, sometimes 

 in a reverse position indeed, just as 

 they happen to lay. In about a month 

 or so from this operation we pinch the 

 points from all growing shoots, or 

 nearly so ; this is generally done about 

 the middle of August, and has a tend- 

 ency to cause the wood to become 

 highly solidified, and thus induces 

 fraitfulness. After this period, the 

 only point is to pinch the points of all 

 succulent spray which may arise. 



Culture during the rest period. When 

 the summer culture of the pear is pro- 

 perly attended to, but little is left for 

 the winter pruner. Nevertheless, there 

 is still something to do. Some shoots 

 will have escaped the summer dresser, 

 and many "snags" must be cut en- 

 tirely away. Most of those which had 

 been pinched back to three inches at 

 Midsummer, or after, must be pruned 

 entirely away. No stump or spur must 

 be left, unless a blank space occur ; as 

 these, by what used to be termed spur- 

 ring back, only produced their like 

 again. These snags removed, the 

 young shoots tied or nailed down must 

 be examined, and all considered super- 

 fluous cut away. Those reserved, must 

 be tied down on the old stems, or nailed 

 between them, and little more is neces- 

 sary until the growing period returns. 



Storing. The conditions requisite 

 for keeping pears, are a rather cool 



room, and one that is dry. It is well 

 known, however, that several of our 

 superior pears require a certain amount 

 of warmth when near the period of use, 

 to give them their proper flavour. We, 

 therefore, in advising a somewhat cool 

 room, refer to one of the most import- 

 ant objects connected with the dessert- 

 table, the providing a long and con- 

 tinuous succession. Still it has been 

 generally found, that in proportion as 

 any given kind has been kept past its 

 natural period, it has, in like proportion, 

 lost flavour, as, also, that buttery tex- 

 ture for which a ripe pear is so much 

 esteemed. What is the best tempera- 

 ture is not quite certain ; it, probably, 

 differs somewhat in different kinds. 

 We should say from 55 to 60, not 

 more than the latter. Probably, a con- 

 dition of air similar to a fine, mild, 

 October day. 



Diseases. See Canker. They are, also, 

 liable to decay at the points of the 

 shoots in some soils ; which, we think, 

 generally arises from the roots entering 

 improper subsoils. 



Insects. See Acarus and Aspidiotus. 



PEAT EARTH. See Bog Earth. 



PEAT PLANTS. See American Plants. 



PEDICULA'RIS. Lousewort. (From 

 pedicHhts, a louse ; supposed effect on 

 sheep eating it. Nat. ord., Figworts 

 [Scrophulariaceas]. Linn., l-Didyna- 

 mia 2-Angiospcrmia. Allied to Melam- 

 pyrum.) 



Seeds and cuttings. Loam and peat ; the 

 great proportion require the cold pit in winter. 

 Sceptrum carolinum is a giant among them, 

 and one of the most beautiful. 



HARDY HERBACEOUS. 



P. adsce'ndens (ascending). . Red. July. 

 Switzerland. 1819. 



atroru'bens (dark-red). 1. Dark red. July. 



Switzerland. 181Q. 



Canade'nsis (Canadian). J. Yellow. July. 



North America. 1780. 



como'sa (tufted). 1. Yellow. July. Italy. 



1775. 



compa' eta (close-headed}. 1. Yellow. July. 



Siberia. 1815. 



~ e'legans (elegant). Purple. June. Siberia. 

 1827. 



incarna'ta (flesh- coloured}. . Pink. June. 



Austria. 17Q6. 



Oe'deri (Oeder). Yellow. July. North 



Kurope. 1827. 



pa'llida (pale). Yellow. July. North Ame- 



rica. 1826. 

 -~ galu'stris (marsh). 2. Purple. June. Britain.. 



