CULTURE OF PYEAMIDAL PEAR TREES 19 



vated space must be confined to a width of two feet ; 

 the remaining space next the trees must not be touched 

 with anything but the hoe to kill the weeds, and when 

 the intermediate cropping has covered the entire surface 

 of the ground, it must remain firm, the only culture 

 besides the hoe being an occasional surface-dressing of 

 manure. This system of hard soil and occasional sur- 

 face-manuring is the summwm bonum, the last step 

 towards perfect market garden fruit culture — except 

 gooseberries, currants, and raspberries, which require 

 other treatment. The quantity of manure required for 

 a surface-dressing is five bushels to twenty-five square 

 yards. 



The rough and ready pruning necessary for market 

 garden pyramidal pears is as follows : — Towards the 

 middle (the end, if the season be late) of June all the 

 terminal buds of the side shoots must be nipped ofij 

 and towards the end of September the trees are again 

 gone over, and the leading shoots stopped ; this is all 

 the pruning required, unless the amateur market gar- 

 dener pleases to amuse himself in winter by removing 

 a crowded shoot or shortening a spur. The varieties 

 best adapted for this mode of pear culture are few, as 

 there are but few sorts popular in the markets. Our 

 first and best is Louise Bonne, requiring, however, a 

 warm climate and good soil ; Williams' Bon Chretien, 

 BeurrS d'Amanlis, Doyenne de Comice, Souvenir du 

 Congr&s, Marie Louise, Marie Louise d'Uccle, Fertility 

 (very hardy), Durondeau, and Beacon. 



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