252 Planting the Pear. 
banks of rivers and streams. All pears will be later in maturing 
and have better keeping qualities if grown on a clay subsoil. 
Thus it appears that the pear will flourish whether the water is 
near or far from the surtace. As compared with the apple, it 
may be said that on wet land the apple tree dies in a few years, 
or becomes worthless. On dry land it lives longer, but the fruit 
is small and tasteless, and comparatively worthless. But the pear 
tree will bear good fruit, under the same conditions, and its mar- 
ket price will average higher than that of the apple. 
It has been learned by experience that the pear will flourish 
on soil somewhat alkaline. At the University Agricultural 
Experiment Station at Tulare, this subject has been demon- 
strated in detail. It is shown that though the pear endures a 
certain amount of alkali its limit of endurance may be often ex- 
ceeded and there is little warrant to select alkali soil for pears, 
unless it be to fill a space that would otherwise be vacant in the 
orchard. If it is not too alkaline the pears will thrive. If gyp- 
sum be used in planting, somewhat stronger alkali will be en- 
dured than otherwise. 
PROPAGATION AND PLANTING. 
The use of dwarfing stock for the pear has been. nearly 
abandoned in this State, though in early years the quince was 
largely used. The most prominent orchard on quince stock is 
that of A. Block, of Santa Clara, where may be seen dwarf trees 
set eight feet apart in squares, which are doing exceedingly well 
under his liberal system of manuring and irrigation. It is quite 
possible that, at least for gardens, we shall see in the future more 
use made of dwarf trees, but for commercial orchards there ap- 
pears no need of dwarfing. It is better to have fewer trees and 
larger ones. 
The following varieties are commended for cultivation on 
quince stock as dwarts, experience proving them vigorous grow- 
ers and abundant bearers in suitable localities: Bartlett, Beurre 
Hardy, Doyenne du Comice, Duchess d’Angouleme, Beurre 
Diel, White Doyenne, Easter Buerre, Winter Nelis, Emile 
‘dHeyst, P. Barry.* 4 
But, the pear is usually grown in California on its own 
roots. It comes into ‘bearing early enough, and is a long- 
lived tree. Trees are grown by either budding or grafting, as 
described in the chapter on that subject. Only good seedling 
‘roots should be used, and not suckers from old trees. The Jap- 
anese stock, so called, being seedlings of the Sand pear, of 
Asia, has been used to some extent by our tree growers. 
* Catalogue California Nursery Co. 
