PEARS. 



103 



very unfavourable to some varieties and not 

 to others. They may have been quite local, 

 for Pears are grown admirably in many parts 

 of the Thames valley, though it is not an 

 ideal situation for this fruit. This is only cited 

 as a prominent example, showing that the cul- 

 tivator is not always to blame for the failure 

 of some Pears. There is always 

 a degree of uncertainty as to the 

 results when Pear-culture is com- 

 menced in a fresh district. 



Pears for Ornamental Purposes. 

 — A well-grown Pear-tree in full 

 blossom is an exceedingly beau- 

 tiful object, as, though the indi- 

 vidual flowers are less attractive 

 than those of the Apple, the pro- 

 fusion with which they are pro- 

 duced, and the accompaniment 

 of a few soft green leaves, render 

 the general effect charming. Their 

 period of beauty is brief, but so 

 is that of many popular plants 

 grown exclusively for their 

 flowers, and there is a second 

 period of attraction to anticipate, 

 i.e. when the fruit is ripening. 

 Admirers of flowering deciduous 

 trees often include the Pear in 

 ornamental plantations, and some 

 will indeed go further, and form 

 groups in a convenient portion 

 of the flower-garden within sight 

 of the house or favourite walks. 

 Free-growing varieties of distinct 

 habit and profuse flowering are 

 especially useful for this purpose, 

 such, for example, as the erect 

 and stately Old Windsor Pear, 

 or the somewhat pendulous Jar- 

 gonelle. 



Another mode of utilizing 

 Pears for ornamental purposes 

 is that of training them over light metal or 

 wooden arches (fig. 900). The various forms 

 of upright cordons are well adapted for this 

 purpose, and if introduced at suitable positions, 

 especially at the intersection of walks, the 

 effect is pleasing. The trees are well exposed 

 to light and air, and often prove exceptionally 

 fruitful as well as ornamental. It is desirable, 

 however, to avoid narrow arches, which have a 

 very meagre appearance and only prove disap- 

 pointing. 



Variegation often appears in Pears, not only 

 in the foliage, but also in the wood and the 



fruit. Varieties which usually develop this 

 peculiarity are Bergamotte Suisse, Beurre 

 d'Amanlis Panachee, Duchesse d'Angouleme 

 Panachee, and Louise Bonne d'Avranches 

 Panachee. 



General Culture: Essentials. — It has been said 

 that wherever " the Apple thrives the Pear will 



Fig. 900.— Arcade of Pears, Madresfield Court. 



grow", and this is perfectly true as far as it 

 goes; but it is not "growth" alone that we 

 require, and unfortunately there are many 

 places where Apples both thrive and fruit 

 though the success of Pears in the same dis- 

 trict is mainly confined to growth. The fact 

 is, that there are many places in the United 

 Kingdom where Pears are successful only when 

 great care and skilful cultivation are devoted 

 to them, and there are some where it is useless 

 to plant them. This is a more serious matter 

 in commercial plantations on a large scale than 

 in private gardens, where various means are at 



