CHAPTER XII 



THE PEAR 

 By OWEN THOMAS 



Public attention of late years has certainly been more directed towards the 

 importance of the minor industries of the land, both in connexion with the 

 garden and the farm, as bearing on the national food supply and the well-being 

 and happiness of our rural population. As one of these minor industries, pear 

 culture, I think, may lay claim to be most important. There has been an 

 impression that pears of the highest quality cannot be grown in England, but 

 must be sought for in France and the Channel Islands. It is a fact, I admit, 

 that the pears from these places exhibited in our markets and fruiterers' windows 

 are of finer appearance, and sometimes of better quality than those English 

 grown ; and it may be reasonably asked, why is this so ? Most would, I have 

 no doubt, answer this question offhand by saying that the climate of these 

 countries, being warmer and more suitable for the culture of the pear, is entirely 

 accountable. I have visited the pear gardens both of France and the Channel 

 Islands, where I had an opportunity of witnessing the systems adopted of grow- 

 ing this fruit, to which as much care, attention, and patience are devoted as we 

 give to our choicest fruits under glass in Britain ; not only in growing the fruit 

 is this great care manifested, but in harvesting, packing, and marketing also. 

 How does the care and attention given to the cultivation of the pear in this country 

 compare r I regret to say there is no comparison whatever. In England the 

 culture of the pear has never been treated seriously except in Hereford, Wor- 

 cester, Kent, and a few other counties where orchards exist for the purpose of 

 furnishing fruit for the manufacture of perry. Those growers who have taken 

 the pear in hand for commercial purposes on a large scale in this country are 

 very few indeed, and even in private gardens not many gardeners have 

 given that time and thought to the subject which is absolutely necessary if the 

 best results are to be obtained. Judging from the few pear orchards that still 

 exist in the neighbourhood of London and other favourable districts, our fore- 

 fathers thought a great deal more of this fruit than we of the present generation 

 do. Many of these old pear trees are of huge size and great age, and all on 

 the pear stock. They have received hardly any attention as regards manuring, 

 pruning, or thinning the fruit, yet it is largely from these that pears are supplied 

 to our poorer markets, and even the half-grown, bruised, and fallen fruits 

 command a ready sale at fair and remunerative prices. It is clear that if English 

 cultivators are to compete with success against French and Channel Island 

 growers, greater care and skill must be given to the industry. The relative 



