86 THE MINIATURE PEUIT GARDEN 



and protection for the cultivation of peaches, it is ad- 

 mirably adapted for pears, apples, and plums. Pig. 8 

 is a section of the trellis, and fig. 9 is a front view of 

 a pear tree trained to it in the upright method. The 

 fruit grown on these trellises is remarkably fine, rival- 

 ling the best specimens of wall pears, owing to the 

 trellis being near enough to the ground for the fruit 

 to reap the benefit of the radiation of heat from the 

 earth. 



The lights should remain over the trees untU the 

 beginning of July, and then be removed, suffering the 

 fruit to ripen fully exposed to the sun and air., It 

 seems ,that the glass over the fruit in its young state 

 serves to develop its growth in a remarkable manner, 

 for rarely is a spot seen on pears grown on these 

 trellises ; they have a clear, beautiful appearance, much 

 like those grown in the warmer parts of Prance. I 

 ought to add that in cool climates, such as the north 

 of England and Scotland, the lights may be suffered to 

 remain over the trees till the beginning or middle of 

 August. This will hasten the ripening of the fruit, 

 but it should be exposed to the air in early autumn for 

 some weeks before it is gathered, unless the climate be 

 particularly cold and stormy, or it may suffer in flavour. 

 Pears ripened under glass are apt to suffer in this re- 

 spect. I have, however, quite recently received the 

 following communication from a clever fruit-cultivator 

 living in Ireland : — ' Let no one persuade you that 

 pears grown in a well ventilated orchard-house are not 



