DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF PEAR TREES. 117 



small gardens and on very limited grounds. The 

 quince is much the best stock for this purpose. In 

 some very highly manured soils, and with some 

 unproductive varieties, the quince has been found 

 absolutely necessary to produce a crop. This stock 

 also improves the quality of some of the melting 

 pears, of which theDuchesse d'Angouleme is given 

 as a striking instance. 



SETTING OUT. Pear trees, on account of their 

 upright, pyramidal growth, require much less space 

 than apples. Twenty feet distance is sufficient in 

 all cases. 



The same remarks with regard to soils, made in 

 relation to the apple, will apply with little varia- 

 tion to the pear. Fast growing varieties, as the 

 Madeleine, if on low and very rich ground, are apt 

 to be injured by winter. 



Trees of the pear have been known for centu- 

 ties to maintain their productiveness, thriftiness 

 and vigor. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 



The only formidable disease to which the pear 

 tree is subject, is the Fire-blight. This usually 

 makes its appearance during the early part of sum- 

 mer. The branches affected by it, suddenly turn 

 black and die. If not arrested in its progress, it 

 usually extends down the tree and destroys it. 



There is but one remedy. This is the immedi- 

 ate excision of the affected parts, or within a day 



