186 FEUIT. 



in Januai-y. When they come into flower, they should be 

 removed to a more airy house to set, as they will not do so 

 readily in a moist atmosphere. When set, place them again 

 in the vinery where the full light reaches them, and top-dress 

 with rich soil, bone-meal, or any good artificial manure. When 

 the fruit is growing freely, weak liquid manure should be given 

 at every watering. By this treatment pears of a very large 

 size and fine flavour can be grown and ripened in the same 

 temperature as the vines. 



Old-established trees on high walls, by careful management, 

 may be put into condition to bear fine exhibition fruit, although 

 they have for years been neglected. If the spurs be long, they 

 should be gradually cut close in, extending the operation over 

 three or four j'ears, when some of the new spurs will begin to 

 bear. Or by cutting out some of the old bi'anches every year, 

 and leading in young shoots, the whole tree can be renewed 

 in a few years. Then by removing some of the soil above the 

 roots, and working in fresh turf and bone-meal, and by mulch- 

 ing and feeding, excellent crops of fine fruit will result. The 

 points of merit are: (1.) Size; (2.) flavour; (3.) shape. In 

 culinary varieties : (1.) Size; (2.) quality. 



THE PIXE-APPLE. 



This is the handsomest as well as the most delicious of all 

 the fruits produced in the greatest perfection, by the skill of 

 the horticulturist, with the aid of modern appliances. It 

 stands at the head of exhibition fruits, a position which its 

 noble appearance, luscious mellow flavour, and rich perfume 

 justly merits, and to the competitor it is an invaluable acquisi- 

 tion in a collection of the best dessert fruits. Although its 

 cultivation has rather declined than increased during the past 

 quarter of a century, it is still considered indispensable in all 

 well-ordered garden establishments. The erroneous and alto- 

 gether costly methods of culture formerly in vogue, and even 

 yet not quite extinct, account in a great measure for the 

 falling off in the numbers grown of this princely, wholesome, 

 and useful fruit. When a more rational system of culture is 



