HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 341 



soil, but very rich with vegetable humus down to the subsoil, in consequence 

 of frequently turning down the surface. 



As above stated, the period of the maturity of the fruit on the tree, and 

 likewise in the fruit-room, depends in a great measure on the soil in which 

 the tree is planted ; and the most delicious qualities of certain varieties 

 of Pears, are owing to the peculiar nature of the soil. The lighter, 

 warmer, and drier the soil, the sooner the flow of sap ends, and the earlier 

 the fruit indicates the necessity of partial gathering. But in case of a 

 stiff cold soil it is the reverse. The first variety of soil will be favorable 

 to one kind of Pear, whilst the second would be unfavorable, and vice versa. 

 But these details belong to a monograph on the cultivation of the principal 

 kinds of Pears ; which, it is hoped, will be completed some of these days, 

 and it will prove very useful to young and inexperienced cultivators. In 

 proof of this, I may be permitted to give an example, and it is taken from 

 amongst many others. The variety of Pear called Nouveau Poiteau, of 

 Van Mons, is unquestionably one of great vigor, very hardy, and produc- 

 tive. "Worked on the Pear stock, and trained en pyramide, it bears fruit 

 as large and as handsome as the Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre Clairgeau, 

 and Marie Louis. Cultivated on the Pear stock, or on the Quince, in a 

 free light soil, with a more substantial and somewhat gravely subsoil, this 

 variety bears fruit which is meltin'g, surgary, vinous, and slightly aromatic ; 

 whereas, if the tree is cultivated in a stiff cold soil, the fruit possesses none 

 of these qualities. It is to be observed that the mean period of the matu- 

 rity of this fruit takes place between the 10th and 25th of November, but 

 without any change of its color (an opaque green), to announce that such 

 is the case. 



The soil, as previously stated, exercises a great influence on the quality 

 of the fruit, but more decidedly on the long-keeping sorts than on the au- 

 tumn kinds. When a tree has been planted under favorable circumstances, 

 and has acquired sufficient strength — when it is not overloaded with too 

 heavy a crop, and conesquently the fruits are enabled to attain their natural 

 size, and likewise the proper degree of maturity, on the tree — it will then 

 only ripen in the fruit-room at the normal period assigned to the variety, 

 whether it may have been gathered in the end of September or in October. 

 In September, before the full moon in this month, if the trees is in a light, 

 deep, warm soil ; and in October if the soil is strong, compact, and cold. 

 All these circumstances require to be taken into consideration, in order to 

 know when to gather the fruit, so that it may keep in the fruit-room its 

 usual proper time for use. 



