THE PEAR, 1 6s 



appearances, for experience here shows, the more the flower the 

 less the fruit. The fact is, that an enormous display of blossom is 

 very exhausting to the tree, and a tree with excess of blossom 

 generally has no fruit at all. When, however, there are but few 

 blossoms every one will set, and there will be a plentiful crop of 

 fruit. An undue crop of fruit also exhausts the tree, and prevents 

 the fruit itself from coming to perfection. 



Upon these grounds the successful growth of pears in the open 

 ground depends upon the trees having a due balance of leaves, flowers, 

 and fruit. Too much growth and too many leaves give no fruit, too 

 many flowerS' prevent fruit, and too much fruit in one year prevents 

 the development of fruit in the succeeding year. 



Gardeners grow pears on a quince stock in order to lessen the 

 intensity of the' woody growth. In nature, a pear-tree is a large 

 forest tree ; in cultivation, the pyramid is a mere bush or shrub. To 

 take advantage of the power of the quince stock and to lessen the 

 growth of the pear, we_ must be careful to prevent the pear stock 

 from reaching below the ground, or this will happen, — the pear 

 stock will send out roots, when the tree will no longer remain a 

 quince-rooted pear-bush, but will become a pear-rootdd forest tree. 



For some years I did not know how to deal with the graft, whether 

 to keep it above ground or place it below, till experience taught me 

 that all my beautiful pyramids might be spoilt if I did not take 

 care to prevent the pear roots from being formed, or, when formed, if 

 I did not quickly cut them off again. 



At Wallington I have very few standard pear-trees, and such as 

 I have present no features for comment, as they have been rather tole- 

 rated than cultivated ; but, wherever there is space, everyone ought to 

 cultivate a standard Louise Bonne, Jargonelle, Marie Louise, Beurre 

 de Capiaumont, Beurr^ Superfin, Glout Morceau, Doyenn6 de Comice, 

 Nelis d'Hiver, and Catillac. 



To ensure a crop of fruit, protection in spring has been recom- 

 mended, but I doubt its efficacy. I once thought of trying an experi- 

 ment by covering my pyramids with crinolines. For this purpose 



