Preserving Green Peas from Birds. 1 ] 9 



The centre shoot of horizontal trees should be cut back from 

 three to five eyes. The fan trees should be cut back according to 

 their strength, until the wall is filled up with shoots from 9 in. 

 to 15 in. apart. A pear wall, if well managed, may be filled in 

 about seven or nine years ; and, by attending to them in the fol- 

 lowing manner, the trees may in that time be in a good bearing 

 state. 



The second year after planting I take up the trees in the 

 month of November, and do not allow a root to be injured. All 

 cross or over-strong roots should be cut away ; the border 

 should be well worked up, and a few barrows of good maiden 

 loam should be added to each tree : then be careful, in planting 

 the trees, to spread all their roots out as regularly as you would 

 train their branches, and the nearer the surface the better. If 

 the tree the next year be too strong, pursue the same course ; 

 and you will find, by adopting this mode of treatment, in the 

 before-mentioned number of years, you may have a wall covered 

 with good fruitful trees : whereas, nine times out of ten, you 

 see nothing but wood of the most unfruitful description. 



I have, in the course of the last twenty years, grown about 

 250 sorts ; and, by constantly removing the trees, I have had a 

 good crop of fine pears on trees not more than four years old. 

 By this method you may remove a tree of twenty years of age. 

 I have made it my constant practice, to make a solution of soft 

 soap and sulphur, mixed with soot and cow-dung, and to have 

 the trees painted with it in the beginning of February, when I 

 always recommend pears to be pruned and nailed. 



Exeter, January 2. 18i>2. 



Art. XVI. Preserving Green Peas from Birds. 

 * By J. WlGHTON. 



Gardeners are well aware that birds often injure their crops of 

 peas by puncturing, or rather ripping up, the pods, for the sake 

 of their contents. The house sparrow and the large titmouse 

 are very mischievous in this respect, and it is difficult to prevent 

 them from doing so either by trapping or shooting ; for the 

 former bird is very shy of a trap, and, at the period alluded to, 

 the latter is so adroit amongst rows of peas that he can scarcely 

 be got sight of. 



As these birds seldom attack peas until the autumn, I am led 

 to think they are compelled to do so for want of more favourite 

 food. In this opinion I am confirmed by repeated observations. 

 Last season I had a row of wheat standing near to my peas, and 



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