124 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



9. Pears resulting from self-fertilization are 

 very uniform in shape. They differ from crosses 

 not only in size and shape, but also, in some 

 cases, in time of ripening, and in flavour. 



10. Among the crosses the differences were 

 slight or variable, so that the variations cannot 

 be ascribed with certainty to differences in 

 pollen. 



11. Self -fecundated Pears are deficient in 

 seeds, and the seeds produced are usually 

 abortive. The crosses are well supplied with 

 sound seeds. 



12. Even with those varieties which are 

 capable of self-fecundation the pollen of an- 

 other variety is prepotent, and unless the 

 entrance of foreign pollen is prevented the 

 greater number of fruits will be affected by it. 



13. The normal typical fruits, and in most 



Fig. 925.— Examples of pruned Pear-roots. 



cases the largest and finest specimens from 

 both the so-called self-sterile and self-fertile 

 varieties are crosses. 



Accompanying the report referred to are 

 illustrations of Williams' Bon Chretien (Bartlett) 

 Pears, one fruit being the result of fertilization 

 with its own pollen, and the other from fertiliz- 

 ation (or pollination, which is the preferable 

 term) with pollen from Easter Beurre, the differ- 

 ence in shape being conspicuous, and the latter 

 is altogether a much better developed fruit than 

 the former. Besides possessing a special scien- 

 tific interest this subject is also of considerable 



practical importance, and it deserves more at- 

 tention than has hitherto been accorded to it. 



When failure to fruit is due to early or too 

 frequent overcropping, to a natural weakness, 

 or to some deficiency of essential substances 

 in the soil, liberal but judicious application of 

 suitable manures will usually effect the desired 

 alteration. It is in such cases that potash in 

 some convenient form, together with super- 

 phosphate of lime, is of the utmost value as 

 a restorative of fertility. 



If undue vigour of growth, deep rooting, or 

 rooting in unfavourable soils are the causes of 

 the trouble, two practical remedies suggest them- 

 selves, namely, (1) lifting and replanting the 

 trees, or (2) root-pruning. It is seldom that 

 these operations are needed with Pears on 

 Quince stocks; but for those on the free stock 

 in some soils, root-pruning is an 

 essential process that must be re- 

 peated periodically. Young trees 

 for the first few years can be readily 

 lifted, and if carefully replanted, 

 this more effectually checks the ex- 

 cessive vigour of branch and root 

 than any other means, but it soon 

 becomes a laborious and expensive 

 task, and recourse must then be had 

 to root-pruning. By carefully re- 

 moving the surface soil a few feet 

 from the stem it will easily be found 

 how far the principal roots extend, 

 and a trench should then be formed 

 round the tree, cutting off cleanly 

 all the strong fibreless and down- 

 ward roots, also carrying this out 

 as far under the main ball of roots 

 as may be possible. Preserve all 

 fibrous roots, and when filling the 

 trench again spread these out evenly 

 near the surface. Render the soil 

 firm, as if it is left loose it is apt to 

 encourage increased root growth of 

 the wrong character. A similar process is some- 

 times requisite with trees trained to walls or 

 trellises, and if performed with judgment it 

 speedily effects a change in the desired direc- 

 tion. 



Routine Culture. — To ensure success with 

 Pears, they require a good deal of attention 

 at different times of the year, and especially in 

 the early stages of their existence. The first 

 season of growth after planting young trees on 

 the Quince it is advisable to remove all flowers 

 as soon as they show, not allowing them to ex- 

 pand. This must be done with care, however, 



