ESPAilEE, PEAES ON aUINCE STOCKS 45 



annually have a surface-dressing of manure about two 

 inches in thickness ; and, as I have before said, have a 

 trench dug biennially eighteen inches deep, six feet from 

 the wall, and the end of every protruding root cut oflF. 

 If this method be followed, and summer terminal 

 pinching of the leading branches be practised, the 

 pruning will be simplified. The first shoots in June 

 •should be stopped as soon as seven leaves are produced, 

 and the remaiuder of the pruning left until October, 

 with the exception of occasionally removing shoots which 

 are too crowded. The branches of the horizontal-trained 

 trees will then form cordons issuing from one main stem ; 

 and this form of training, with all due deference to our 

 Gallic neighbours, has been practised here for many 

 years, although we did not give it a popular name. 



In forming borders for wall pear trees on quince 

 stocks, biennially root-pruned, the soil should be well 

 stirred with the fork to a depth of eighteen inches, and 

 if it be poor, a good dressing of rotten manure or leaf 

 mould should be mixed with it. Lime rubbish or gyp- 

 sum is a necessary compost. Pears on quince stocks are 

 much better adapted for this mode of culture than those 

 on pear stocks. If the latter be planted, the border, six 

 feet wide, should have a thick layer of concrete at bottom, 

 to prevent the roots striking downwards ; or it would be 

 good practice to place, eighteen inches deep under each 

 tree, a flat piece of stone three feet in diameter ; this 

 would force the roots to take a horizontal direction, and 

 facilitate the operation of root-pruning. 



