THE PEAR. 85 



cessive moisture will thereby be secured. A light 

 soil is less promising, and will require constant 

 enriching in order to maintain vigor. Dwarfs 

 should not be used in such a soil, except with 

 the free addition of heavy loam, or clay and 

 stable manure. 



Previous to planting it is very desirable that 

 the soil should be thoroughly and deeply 

 ploughed, so as to be in fine condition to sift in 

 among the roots. It is a great gain also if it 

 has been made rich by previous culture. If not, 

 an equivalent of well-rotted manure should be 

 worked in, but kept from immediate contact with 

 the roots. The pear is a gross feeder and should 

 have annual surface dressings of stable manure, 

 wood ashes, or their equivalents. Clean culture is 

 preferable, though some light vegetable crops 

 may be allowed between the trees. Grains and 

 grasses under the trees are decidedly injurious. 



PRUNING. 



As a rule, the pear is symmetrical in growth 

 and requires less pruning than other fruits. At 

 the planting the young tree usually has six to 

 eight shoots, the growth of the previous season, 

 with a clean trunk of four feet, if a standard. 

 These shoots should be shortened back to within 

 three or four buds from the base, in order to 



