66 THE MINIATUEE ERUIT G-AEDEN 



too abundantly or that appear unhealthy by their leaves 

 tumiag yellow. In such cases, when the trees are of 

 advanced growth, a basin of the same depth, but three 

 or more feet in diameter, should be formed and filled 

 with manure ; in all cases for this purpose this should 

 be but slightly decomposed. 



GATHERING THE FRUIT 



The fruit of pears, more particularly those on quince 

 stocks, should not be suffered to ripen on the tree, 

 the summer and autumn varieties should be gathered 

 before they are quite ripe, and left to ripen in the fruit 

 room.i The late pears should be gathered before the 

 leaves take their autumnal tints ; if suffered to remain 

 too long on the trees they frequently never ripen, 

 but continue hard tUl they rot. In most seasons, 

 from the beginning to the end of October is a good 

 time, but much depends on soU and climate. The 

 .following passage from that very excellent work, 

 Downing's ' Fruit Trees of America,' is appropriate to 

 this subject : — 



' The pear is a peculiar fruit in one respect, which 

 should always be kept in mind, viz., that most vwrieties 

 are m/ach finer . in flamour if piolced from the tree, and 



' Pears that ripen in September and October sbould not be 

 gathered all at one time, but at intervals of a week or so, making, 

 say, three gatherings ; their season is thus much prolonged. 



