THE GARDEN AT HOME 



if we except a few varieties such as Conference, Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey, and William's Bon Chretien. The 

 loss of a crop is the more tantalising, since Pear trees 

 are nearly always smothered in blossom in spring. Apples 

 seem more reasonable, since except, of course, when they 

 are damaged by frost a good show of blossom is usually 

 followed by a good harvest of fruit. If there is a poor 

 display of bloom then the only thing to do is to make 

 up one's mind to a meagre gathering of fruit. 



The pruning of the Pear presents even less difficulty 

 than that of the Apple, for while some varieties of Apple 

 dislike being hard pruned the Pears do not mind it, and 

 under this treatment form fruit spurs very freely. The 

 Pear needs a warmer climate than the Apple to bring it 

 to perfection, hence the advisability of growing the 

 trees against walls or on espaliers in enclosed gardens 

 to ensure good results in the northern counties. Orchard 

 trees of the Pear are grafted on the wild Pear stock, 

 while dwarf trees are grafted on the Quince. These are 

 more satisfactory to the small grower than standard 

 Pears, for, like Apples on the Paradise stock, they come 

 into bearing much more quickly. 



I am able to reprint a most interesting table that 

 was contributed to the Gardener by the Rev. C. C. Ellison, 

 of Bracebridge, Lincoln, an expert amateur fruit-grower. 

 It is a carefully kept record of the behaviour of several 

 well known varieties of Pears throughout ten years 

 and the number of fruits produced by each variety. 



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