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nature, whether it was pear, quince or white thorn, for I 

 have known some healthy free-bearing pears grafted on 

 the latter. Thus at Deepdene, near Dorking, I observed a 

 number of fine pyramidal trees. They were all worked on 

 the quince, and the gardener assured me they had been 

 planted thirty-four years. They are very healthy and are 

 growing in a soil of the driest and lightest description. 

 Presuming that they were three years of age when planted, 

 they must be now nearly forty years old, and most cer- 

 tainly appear as if they would live and bear fruit for 

 twenty years to come. A light, porous soil overlying a 

 cool stratum is, I believe, the most favourable for the pear 

 or quince stock. Hence should the soil in which they are 

 to be planted be heavy and stiff, it should be corrected by 

 a light compost, or pears on pear stock substituted." 



Allusions have been made to the dislike which some fine 

 sorts of pears seem to show to the quince stock, and the 

 consequent difficulty of getting a perfect union. This is 

 particularly marked with the Jargonelle, with Marie Louise 

 and Bergamot Gansel; less distinctly with Beurre' Clair- 

 geau, Beurre' Eance and Beurre' d'Angleterre. As a general 

 rule cleft- grafting has a better chance of success in these 

 cases than simple budding. But the more satisfactory 

 procedure is that of double grafting. Upon the quince 

 stock is first worked a vigorous pear sort which takes 

 kindly to it. After perfect union and sufficient growth, 

 generally two years, the pear shoot is headed back and 

 made to carry the bud or scion of the desired variety. 

 Thus the vigorous Beurre' d'Amanlis makes a most perfect 

 intermediary between quince aud Jargonelle and the two 

 others above-named. Other strong growing sorts e.g., 

 Beurre* Hardy, Yicar of Winkfield, Beurre' Noisette, 

 Lavinicu, Jaminette, Beurre' Yert may be used to carry 

 more tender or more fastidious pear varieties, which, even 

 if they make a sound, direct union with the quince stock, 

 are rendered thereby slow of growth. 



In this system of over-grafting, with its opportunities 

 for new combinations, there is a great field open for ex- 

 perimental trials, and the last word respecting pear- 

 culture on dwarfing stocks has by no means been said. A 

 well known scientific gardener, Mr. F. W. Burbidge, draws 



