FHUIT. 185 



A deep loamy soil suits the Peai- ; therefore, if the natural soil 

 is unsuitable, it should be taken out, two to three feet deep and 

 four feet from the wall, filling up with turfy loam of a medium 

 texture. The trees should be planted in October, four feet 

 apart, to be trained as upright cordons ; and if the soil be 

 dry, the roots should be watered and mulched. At the winter 

 pruning the two strongest shoots should be reserved, cut back 

 to 18 inches in length, and trained horizontally, leaving one 

 bud six inches from the base, and another at the end of each 

 shoot. These in time will form the four leading shoots, to be 

 trained upright about a foot apart. The advantages from this 

 method are, many varieties in small space, furnishing a large 

 quantity of fruit in a short time, and the restriction of the 

 roots enables the cultivator to water and nourish the trees 

 more easily when it is required. By carefully pinching the 

 young shoots in summer when two or three inches long, many 

 spurs and fruit-buds will be formed, which in a few years will 

 bear a heavy crop of fruit. When the fruit is swelling, it 

 should be fully exposed to the sun, and the roots receive a 

 liberal svipply of liquid manure, and be top-dressed to bring 

 the fruit to perfection. 



The cultivation of many of the late varieties of pears, 



except during exceptionally fine seasons, is not attended with 



great success in cold districts : therefore an orchard-house, or 



any suitable glass structure, should be provided for them. The)' 



can be grown to a fine size in pots in an orchard-house, vinery, 



or peach-house, if not too much shaded by the overhead foliage. 



In order to have Beurre Diel, Marie Louise, Pitmaston Duchesse, 



or any of the late varieties ripe for autumn shows, they must be 



grown in heat. A vinery or early peach-house is suitable for 



theii- culture when grown in pots. Bush-trees of a suitable 



size, on the Quince stock, should be lifted from the open 



ground in early spring, root-pruned, and potted in 12 -inch 



pots, using sound turfy loam and crushed bones. Place them 



in a light airy position in a peach or orchard house, and after 



the growth has been made, put them outside against a south 



wall, where they will get thoroughly ripened. During winter 



set them in a cool house, and start them with the first vinery 



