1872 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 7 



Fourth. — From injudicious and unscientific modes of cultivation in both soil and tree. 

 First, then, of 



JJnamgeniality of soU. Almost every species, and indeed, every variety of the tree fam- 

 ily, requires a peculiar kind of soil to suit its peculiar requirements. The Pear, although 

 adapting itself to a great variety of situations, is nevertheless sometimes planted in soils 

 where it cannot thrive. The almost perpendicular descent of its roots would seem to indi- 

 cate a soil easily penetrated if it would grow thrifty. A soil, therefore, well supplied with 

 sand, is best suited to its growth. If this soil is well mixed with gravel, so much the bet- 

 ter. These indications are such as would give a moderate, yet healthy growth, the very 

 kind of growth that the pear tree requires. Facts are abundant in confirmation of these 

 opinions, three of which are in point — New Jersey, Long Island and California. At all 

 of these places pear culture is eminently successful, owing principally in the two former 

 to the abundance of .sand in their soils. In such lands as these, thorough cultivation is 

 necessary to make the fruit fine, while in lands of a rich, loamy character, such a cultiva- 

 tion would result in the death of many of the trees from blight, probably ; hence, in plant- 

 ing pear trees upon the pear-root lands of the above kind, light, but not very rich, should 

 be selected. Pear trees grown on the Quince, however, require a different kind of soil — 

 one abounding more in clay than sand. What are usually termed white oak lands, are 

 well adapted to the growth of the Quince, especially in the West. The Pear, worked on 

 (he Quince, and in lands where clay abounds, having the junction of the Pear with the 

 Quince, some two inches below the surface, will bear early, produce fine fruit, and ulti- 

 mately make fine, large trees — by the Pear rooting at the surface. 



Soils that are deep and rich with vegetable mold, such as are found in river bottoms and 

 rich prairies, are wholly unsuited to successful pear culture — causing the trees to make a 

 too rapid and unhealthy growth. Trees planted on such lands are very apt to die prema- 

 turely, bringing loss and disappointment to the planter. 



Climate. Where the climate is uniform — as in California — pear culture is uniformly suc- 

 cessful, especially where the soil is adapted to the healthy growth of the tree, whether 

 upon its own roots or upon the Quince ; but, in climates subject to sudden and extreme 

 changes of temperature, success is much less certain. In climates where these sudden and 

 extreme changes frequently occur, we will find it absolutely neceesary to put in requisi- 

 tion all the appliances of a judicious selection of the soil and scientific manipulation of 

 the tree. These changes, and these mainly, are the difficulties that lie in the way to suc- 

 cessful pear culture between latitude 36° and 41° north, and between the Rocky Moun- 

 tains aud the Mississippi ; but when these changes are not common, or if common, not 

 severe, then may we reasonably hope for abundant crops of pears. 



Xlie Pear ou the mountain Asli.— The European and American Stocks. 



By Robert Douglass, Waukegak, III. 

 Ed. Pomologist and Gardener: — H. C. R., Council Bluffs, page 32.S, December num- 

 ber Pomologist and Gardener, asks for information regarding Pear on Mountain Ash 

 roots- He also puts the following yery pertinent questions: 

 " Are they not really of much less value than when propagated upon Pear stock ? " 

 "To what age docs the Mountain Ash live, compared with the Pear?" 

 " Which is the longer lived tree, the American or European Mountain Ash ? " 

 The Pear Tree in suitable soil and climate lives to a great age. The Mountain Ash is 

 generally considered to be a tree that grows very fast when young, soon comes to matur- 

 ity, and as a consequence, soon dies. It is so well known that the pear tree, wlien in a 

 suitable soil and climate, will stand for centuries ; we are probably all agreed on that point. 

 It is not so easy to ascertain to what age the American and European Mountain Ash 

 attain, when in a suitable soil and climate. I have no data by which we can approximate 

 to the age of the American Mountain Ash, therefore cannot answer the question, whether 

 the American or European Mountain Ash is the longest lived tree. 

 Grigor, in speaking of the European Mountain Ash (Pyrus Aucupai-ia), says: "Some 



