THE MEDLAR. 119 



grass, and, when sufficiently mellow, is picked up and 

 eaten. 



Propagation. This is effected by budding and grafting 

 on seedling Pear stocks, or on the Whitethorn or the 

 Quince. Medlars are easily reared from seeds sown an 

 inch deep in the open garden in autumn ; but as seedlings 

 rarely come true, or prove fruitful, they are only of ser- 

 vice as stocks for budding or grafting good sorts on. 

 Budding should be done in July, and grafting early in 

 April. The Pear and Whitethorn are the best stocks for 

 standards, and the Quince for dwarf trees. Cleft graft- 

 ing is best for Medlars. 



Soil. The Medlar prefers a deep loamy soil that is 

 fairly moist, but yet not cold and very wet. Where the 

 soils are inclined to be light and dry, the trees should be 

 worked on the Whitethorn ^stock to ensure their doing 

 really well. 



Position. Medlars will thrive as standards in grass 

 orchards or hedgerows, or as specimens on the lawn, or 

 in any open, sunny spot in the garden. 



Form of Trees. Standards with clear main stems 5ft. 

 to 6ft. high are the usual form of growing the Medlar. 

 They may, however, be grown as pyramids or bushes 

 grafted on the Quince stock, and in this way they form 

 pretty trees to cultivate in small gardens. 



Planting. This may be done any time between Novem- 

 ber and March. In each case see that the tree is securely 

 staked at planting time. Plant standards i8ft., and 

 pyramids or dwarfs i2ft. apart. 



Pruning. The only pruning required is to cut out dead 

 or diseased wood, and thin out the branches moderately 

 where much crowded in winter. As the fruit is borne on 

 the terminal ends of branches, as well as on old spurs, 

 it will be seen that the less pruning is given the better. 



