Root-Priming Pear Trees. 285 



many instances direct the choice of the planter ; in recom- 

 mending pears on quince stocks, for all cold soils and situ- 

 ations even in the far north, I may appear theoretical, but 

 from my own experience in some very cold and clayey soils 

 in this neighborhood, I feel sanguine as to the result, for I 

 have observed in my frequent visits to the pear gardens of 

 France, that many sorts are often too ripe. Now, this is 

 just the tendency we require. In our cold and moist cli- 

 mate, most certainly pears will not get too ripe, more espe- 

 cially in the north of England and in Scotland. 



Pears seem to require a warm moist climate ; Jersey is 

 probably the most favorable site for pears in Europe, and 

 next to that fertile spot, the low moist situations near Lon- 

 don, particularly in the neighborhood of Rotherhithe; in 

 that deep, alluvial soil, the Jargonelle and other tine pears 

 may be said to attain to the highest possible degree of per- 

 fection. In many parts of France the climate is too warm; 

 I observed, when at Nantes, in 1842, the Chaumontelle and 

 several others, very small and gritty. On inquiry, I was 

 informed that they seldom attained full perfection, as the 

 climate was too warm for them. The neighborhoods of 

 Cheltenham and Worcester are very favorable for the cul- 

 ture of pears. Many of the Flemish and French varieties 

 ripen their fruit well, and are tirsi-iats in size and flavor. 



1. Pear tree trained conically. — This shape is adapted for 

 small orchards into which cattle are not turned, and for 

 large gardens ; the lower shoots must be encouraged, and 

 the upper shoots constantly shortened in summer, till the 

 tree has attained the conical form ; trees of this shape can- 

 not at present be bought in the nurseries, therefore grafts of 

 one year's growth should be planted (those of two years 

 are generally drawn up, and are bare of shoots at the base); 

 from these all but one shoot should be cut otf, leaving that 

 which is most vigorous and erect ; this may be shortened 

 to within two feet at the time of planting ; the following 

 summer a leading shoot may be suffered to grow till July ; 

 this should then be shortened to about one foot, which will 

 encourage the growth of shoots on the lower part of the 

 tree. An annual shortening of the leading shoot in July 

 may continue till the tree has attained the height required, 

 say from six to eight feet ; and then, supposing the tree to 

 be well-furnished with branches on its stem, so as to form 

 more or less of a cone, root-pruning may be commenced, 



