50 THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



plying their roots with a dressing of leaf-mold, sand, 

 and rotten maimre, equal parts. Powdered charcoal, 

 or the ashes of burnt turf and rotten manure, also 

 make an excellent root-dressing for cold lieavy soils ; 

 but if the soil be dry and poor, and unfavorable to 

 the peach and ueftaiino, loara and rotten manure is 

 the best dressing for the roots, and also for the surface. 



PLANTING AND AFTER MANAGESIEST. 



Pyramidal pear trees of from tliree to five years old 

 on the quince stock, root-pnined, and full of blossom- 

 buds, may now be purchased. Trees of this descrip- 

 tion should, if possible, be planted before C hristmas ; 

 but if the soil be very tenacious, the holes may be 

 opened in the autumn, and the trees planted in 

 February ; the soil will be mellowed and benefited 

 by the frosts of winter.' 



Pear trees ^rafted on the quince stuck oflTer a curi- 

 ous anomaly, for if they are removed quite late in 

 spring — say toward the end of March, when their 

 blossom-buds are just on the point of bursting — they 

 will bear a fine and often an abundant crop of fruit. 

 Tliis is sometimes owing to the blossoms being re- 

 tarded, and thus escaping the spring frosts ; but it has 

 so often occurred here when no frosts have visited us 

 that I notice it — in fact, no trees bear late removal so 

 well as pears on quince stocks. 



* Tho roots rtf poar trotvi on tho qulnco Atook, and, Id'KhmI. of nit root-pmcod 

 troc« aro vory flbrutia. In plnntingr, It l8 jiooil pmetico to gtvo each tree two 

 BliQVrlfiils of line flirt li or mold nitluT dry — to pliire It on tho nnita nnil »li;»ko tho 

 tri'c, m» that thi' iiimUI U woU inlxi'd with tho mnsA of rtbrt»is ruotA. Roforo tho 

 ftoil 1» nil flilod In, throo op fonr pilloiit* of \vi\t,'r should bo pi'orod In. bo iw to \rnsh 

 Ihu ciirili Into ovt'iy orovtci'. Tho roots should ntit ho cnuuuiod Into rt BTHull hole 

 A troy, with Its roots IS iiii-hos lit dltiulcturiWlU rc.intro a holo '.'I foot In dUuuotcr^ 

 and 8u on In proportion. 



