THE PEAR. 



325 



A preference, says Knight, has generally and 

 justly been given to apple stocks raised from the 

 seeds of crabs or the native tree, as being more 

 hardy and durable, than those produced from 

 apple seedlings. The oifspring of some varieties 

 of the crab, particularly that introduced from 

 Siberia, vegetate much earlier in the spring, and 

 hasten on to maturation sooner in summer than 

 other species of more temperate climes; and 

 hence it was at first supposed that such stocks 

 would continue to accelerate the grafts put on 

 them in a similar manner; this, however, is found 

 not to be the case, the stock being entirely sub- 

 servient to the influence of the branches. The 

 operation of ingrafting we shall describe after- 

 wards. 



The apple tree thrives best in a rich deep 

 loam, or mai-shy clay; but it will thrive in any 

 soil provided it is not too wet or too dry. It 

 succeeds best in situations which are neither 

 high nor remarkable low; in the former its blos- 

 soms are frequently injured by cold winds; and 

 in the latter by spring frosts, particularly when 

 planted in the lowest part of a confined valley. 

 A south or south-east aspect is generally pre- 

 fen-ed, on account of the turbulence of the west, 

 and the coldness of north winds; but orchards, 

 where mutual shelter is afforded, succeed well in 

 all aspects. 



In all the varieties of the apple, the mode of 

 bearing is upon small terminal and lateral spines, 

 or short rob\ist shoots, from half an inch to two 

 inches long, which spring from the younger 

 branches of two or more years' growth; appearing 

 first at the extremity, and extending gradually 

 down the side; the same bearing branches and 

 fruit spines continue manj' years fniitful. 



Priminfi. Apple trees do not admit of short- 

 ening in the general bearers, except when any 

 grow out of order, or irregularly, when they may 

 be pruned. As, where a good shoot is contig- 

 uous to a vacant space, it may lie shortened to a 

 few eyes, in order that it may bud out luxuri- 

 antly, and fill the vacant space. But to shorten 

 without such motives is not only to cut away the 

 principal bearing part of the branches, but gives 

 encouragement to the putting forth of many 

 useless woody shoots, where fruit spines would 

 otherwise arise. Espaliers and wall trees require 

 more cutting both in summer and winter, as well 

 as training into particular positions. All the 

 best fruit spines are carefully retained, and the 

 loose and useless shoots lopped off. 



Apple trees are very liable to injuries by in- 

 sects. The greatest enemy is the apple bug, or 

 wooly aphis, C aphis lanigcra.) This insect first 

 appeared in a nursery in Sloan St London, so 

 recently as the year 1787, and has now spread 

 over the whole kingdom. It is a minute insect, 

 covered with a long cotton-like down, and lives 

 in the chinks of tiie bark, where it multiplies 



rapidly. It may be destroyed by anointing the 

 trees with spirit of tar, or carefully freeing the 

 branches of all loose bark, and sponging them 

 with lime water. In early spring the blossom 

 is attacked by the cat ci-pi liar of two or three 

 small moths, which conceal themselves in the 

 buds and open leaves, thus causing what is called 

 the blight. When the leaves are fully expanded, 

 other caterpillars attack and feed on them, the 

 chief of which is the figure of eight moths, 

 (homhi/x cosvaleocephalus;) snails and slugs also, 

 as well as the larva; of insects, prey upon the 

 tender fruit. 



In several of the counties of England, cider is 

 largely manufactured from apples. This process 

 consists in grinding down the pulp in a mUl, 

 collecting and afterwards fei-menting the juice, 

 when a brisk, pleasing, acid liquor is produced. 



The cider counties of England have always 

 been considered as highly interesting. They lie 

 something in the fonn of a horse-shoe round the 

 Bristol channel; and the best are, Worcester and 

 Hereford on the north of the channel, and 

 Somerset and Devon on the south. In appear- 

 ance, they have a considerable advantage over 

 those counties in which grain alone is cultivated. 

 The blossoms cover an extensive district with a 

 profusion of flowers in the spring, and the fruit 

 is beautiful in autumn. Some of the orchards 

 occupy a space of forty or fifty acres; and the 

 trees being at considerable intervals, the land 

 is also kept in tillage. A great deal of practical 

 acquaintance with the qualities of soil is required 

 in the culture of apple and pear trees; and his 

 skill in the adaptation of trees to their situation 

 principally determines the success of the manu- 

 facturer of cider and perry. The produce of the 

 orchards is very fluctuating; and the growers 

 seldom expect an abundant crop more than once 

 in three year's. The quantity of apples required 

 to make a hogshead of cider is from twenty-four 

 to thirty bushels; and in a good year an acre of 

 orchard will produce somewhere about six hun- 

 dred bushels, or from twenty to twentj^-five 

 hogsheads. The cider harvest is in September. 

 When the season is favouraI)le, the heaps of 

 apples collected at the presses are immense, con- 

 sisting of hundi'eds of tons. If any of the ves- 

 sels used in the manufacture of cider are of lead, 

 the beverage is not wholesome. The price of a 

 hogshead of cider generally varies from £2 to £5, 

 according to the season and quality; but cider of 

 the finest growth has sometimes been sold as 

 high as £20 the hogshead, direct from the 

 press, a price equal to that of many of the fine 

 wines of the Rhine or the Garonne. 



The Pear, (pyrus communis.) This tree, in 

 its wild state, is anned with thorns, has upright 

 branches tending to the pyramidal form, in which 

 it differs materially from the apple tree. The 

 twigs or spray hang down, the leaves are cllijiti- 



