342 THE FLORIST AND 



It cannot be denied, and all practical men agree, that the stock has great 

 influence, not only as regards the period of gathering the fruit, but also 

 with respect to that of its ripening in the fruit-room. I knew a cultivator 

 who raised stocks for budding with summer and autumn fruits, others for 

 winter and spring varieties. With regard to the summer and autumn 

 kinds, the nature of the stock is of little importance ; but when long-keep- 

 ing sorts are worked on wild Pear stocks, which stocks, if allowed to fruit, 

 would produce summer Pears, it is certain that the period of ripening of 

 late Pears worked on these stocks would be affected. I have seen some 

 seedlings, planted in proper soil, produce fruit of which the medium time 

 of ripening on their own roots had been fixed between September and 

 February ; but when grafted on summer or early ripening wild Pears, the 

 ripening of the above varieties, grown in similar soil, was accelerated more 

 than a month. Such irregularities do not result from propagations on th® 

 Quince stocks, because these are identically reproduced from layers.. The 

 importance of avoiding the unsuitable union of winter and summer fruits 

 will be readily admitted : that is, the grafting of late ripening varieties of 

 Pear trees on early ripening wild Pear stocks. 



I am aware it will be objected that the purchaser would not take pre- 

 cautions on this point into consideration ; that he only sees to the young 

 trees having been once or twice properly cut or pruned ; and that a certain 

 number of such and such varieties required for his plantation is obtained. 

 I understand these objections, because they do in reality exist. However, 

 there are some intelligent amateurs who wish to obtain good articles on 

 which they can depend, and are willing to pay a good price for them as a 

 just remuneration to the producer. 



Warm and early seasons accelerate the maturity of the fruit on the tree, 

 but not in the fruit-room. After a good summer and warm autumn, Pears 

 keep better, are always longer in becoming fit for use than when the sea- 

 son is otherwise, especially as regards ■ the late sorts. After the warm 

 summers of 1834, 1838, 1841, 1844, 1848, and 1850, the Passe Colmar 

 and Beurre d'Hardenpont [Glout Morceau], although gathered in the end 

 of September, kept till the end of December and January; the Beurre 

 Ranee, from January till April and June. 



In conclusion, from what has been stated, it results that the same kind 

 of fruit cannot be gathered uniformly at the same date, owing to various 

 circumstances which influence the ripening ; that by successional gather- 

 ings, or at intervals, the proper time for different localities is best ascer. 



