2 THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



Btocks are strictly garden trees, and not adapted for 

 orchards. 



The most eligible season for planting pyramidal 

 pear trees is during the months of November and De- 

 cember, but they may be planted even until the end 

 of March ; in planting so late, no fruit must be ex- 

 pected the first season. Still, I ought to Fay here that 

 I have frequently removed pear tree> on the i[uince 

 stock in March and April just as the blossom-bads 

 were bursting, and have had fine fruit the same sea- 

 son, particularly if sharp frosts occurred in May. The 

 buds being retarded, the blossoms opened after the 

 usual period, and thus escaped. The experiment is 

 quite worth trying in seasons when the buds swell 

 very early. 



If root-pruned pyramidal trees be planted, it will 

 much assist them if about half the bh isscim-buds are 

 thinned out with a penknife just before they open ; 

 otherwise these root-pruned trees on the quince stock 

 are so full of them that the tree receives a check in 

 supporting such an almndance of bloom. AImmu ten 

 or fifteen fi-uit may be permitted to ripen the first 

 season ; the following season two or three dozen will 

 be as many as the tree ought to be allowed to brinjj to 

 perfection ; increasing the number as the tree increases 

 in vigor, always remeniliering that a few full-sized 

 and wcllripcned jiears are to be ]>retorred to a creator 

 number iiil'ericir in size and (jualitv. 



in the enfrniviii!; at tlio (.•ommeiiceinont of this little 

 volume 1 have given a fuitiiful portrait of a p\ rnmidal 

 tree of thi: Iknirie dr Cupiauuiont pear, budded on 

 the quince : this was taken in 184G ; the tree was then 



