PEAE 



HABDY FBUIT GARDEN 



PBAB 1063 



themselves in the soil at the hkae of the 

 trees. They remain in the chrysalis state 

 until spring, when the new insects appear 

 and the work of destruction begins again. 

 The female insect is only about 1^ in. 

 long, and is therefore very likely to be 

 overlooked. Sometimes from 20 to 30 

 maggots infest a single Pear, and the 

 variety Marie Louise seems to be a 

 particular favourite with them. 



Remedies. — When the fruits show 

 signs of attack by their deformed shape 

 or dropping from the tree, they should be 

 at once collected and burned — not thrown 

 on the rubbish to allow the maggots to 

 reach the chrysalis state. 



Spraying with Paris green in spring 

 and adopting the measures recommended 

 for the Codhn Moth at p. 1047 will prove 

 effective — if the pest is not allowed to 

 flourish in neighbouring gardens. 



Various other insects occasionally 

 attack the Pear tree, but as a rule, where 

 steps are taken to destroy or prevent any 

 of the preceding pests, the remedies are 

 effectual for any others that may happen 

 to be present. In this connection the 

 reader is referred to the insect enemies of 

 the Apple (p. 1046). 



Canker, mildew, cracking, and other 

 fungoid diseases of the Pear tree are 

 brought about by bad cultivation very 

 often as in the Apple tree, and the same 

 remedies must be adopted. Mosses, 

 lichens, and other low vegetable organisms 

 may be removed by the caustic soda and 

 potash solution recommended at p. 1046. 



VARIETIES OP PEAKS TO GROW 



There are about 700 or 800 varieties of 

 Pears which have at one time or another 

 received names, but there must be at least 

 as many more unnamed varieties. Very 

 few, however, are worthy of cultivation 

 from the amateur's point of view. Beurre 

 Superfin, Beurre Diel, Doyenne du 

 Com/ice, Durondecm, Josephine de Ma- 

 l/i/nes, Pitmaston Duchess, Jargonelle, 

 Williams' Bon Ohreiien, Louise Bonne 

 of Jersey, Marie Louise d' Uccle, Souvenir 

 cki Oongres, and one or two others being 

 probably the very best. 



In the selection given below only the 

 finest flavoured varieties are described. 

 Those most suitable for stewing are 

 marked with an asterisk (*). 



Autumn Nelis. — This fine Pear is ripe 

 in September and October, and has a 

 sweet rich musky flavour. It must, how- 



ever, be eaten soon after gathering, as it 

 soon decays. Fruit small, roundish, top- 

 shaped, entirely covered with brown rus- 

 set, with a patch of greenish-yellow here 

 and there. 



The tree is very healthy and vigorous 

 and bears freely 



Baronne de Mello. — This excellent 

 Pear is very juicy and rich hi flavour, and 

 is usually ripe at the end of October and 

 lasts sometimes well into November. 

 Fruit elongated top-shaped, almost en- 

 tirely covered with dark brown thin 

 smooth russet, greenish-yellow mottled 

 with russet on the shaded side. 



A hardy, vigorous, but not rank-grow- 

 ing tree. Grows well on the Quince, and 

 is suitable for cordons, pyramids, or 

 bushes. It is an excellent cropper. 



Belle Julie. — A very delicious juicy 

 Pear with a sugary vinous flavour ; ripe 

 at the end of October. Fruit medium, 

 long obovoid, even and regular in shape, 

 roughish, with large russety specks, dull 

 brown flushed with a reddish-brown on 

 the sunny side, greenish on the shaded 

 side. 



The tree thrives as a pyramid or 

 cordon, and bears very heavy crops of 

 fruit. 



* Bellissime d'hiver. — A "very fine 

 stewing Pear, having a tender sweet and 

 musky flavour, and quite free from gritti- 

 ness ; it is in use from November to April. 

 Fruit very large, roundish top-shaped, 

 smooth, deep shining green on the shaded 

 side, changing to lemon-yellow, the sunny 

 side being flushed with a rich vermilion 

 or rosy-red. 



The tree grows vigorously either on 

 the Pear or Quince stock, and makes a 

 good standard. 



Bergamotte Esperen. — A delicious 

 late Pear fit for use from the middle of 

 February until April. It has a yellowish 

 fine-grained flesh, quite melting, very 

 juicy and sugary, and pleasantly flavoured. 

 Fruit medium, roundish irregular, with a 

 coarse and rough skin, at first dark green 

 with large brown russet dots, becoming 

 greenish-yellow v^th maturity, and some- 

 times flushed with orange on the sunny 

 side. 



The tree forms a handsome pyramid. 

 It succeeds well on the Quince stock, and 

 bears heavy crops, although in some 

 parts the fruit does not ripen well. When 

 grown as a cordon against walls excellent 

 fruits can be obtained. 



