126 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



halves with a flanged joint so that it can readily 

 be applied without undue handling or bruising 

 the fruit. When placed in position, suspended 

 from the branch, the appliance is closed by 

 clamps fixed to the edges. The material is 

 nearly as light as muslin, and is much more 

 durable, having been continuously exposed in 

 all kinds of weather, fierce sun and heavy winter 

 rains, without the least injury. It can be util- 

 ized for a variety of purposes, one of which is 

 the protection of flowers that have been fer- 

 tilized and from which it is essential to exclude 

 insects. 



To all trained trees close attention must 

 be given during the summer months in the 

 pinching and reduction of superfluous shoots 

 in accordance with the directions in previous 

 sections of this chapter. Neglect in this matter 

 means the crowding of the tree with useless 

 growths, increasing the work of winter pruning, 

 and partly defeating the object of subjecting 

 trees to artificial training. 



Gathering Pears. — It was the opinion of a 

 celebrated American pomologist, Mr. Downing, 

 which was shared by the late Dr. Hogg and 

 Air. T. Rivers, that the majority of early and 

 mid-season Pears are gathered too early. The 

 former stated that " most varieties are much 

 finer in flavour if picked from the tree and 

 ripened in the house than if allowed to become 

 fully matured on the tree ". This may be of 

 more general application in America than it 

 is here, but it is certainly true as regards 

 many first-class varieties in this country. 

 Williams' Bon Chretien is a notable example 

 of the peculiarity, and the fruits of this variety 

 imported from California and South Africa, 

 which have been usually gathered at least a 

 fortnight, or sometimes even three weeks, are 

 found to possess an exquisite flavour when fully 

 ripe. In this case the results are precisely the 

 same in our climate, and it is true also as 

 regards some others. 



As a general rule, Pears are fit to gather 

 when, on lifting up the fruit to a horizontal 

 position, the stalk, without pulling, readily 

 separates at its junction with the spur. When 

 the stalk requires to be pulled and twisted, 

 and will rather break than separate from where 

 it joins the spur, the fruit has not acquired 

 all the nourishment which it otherwise would 

 derive from the tree. There are, however, 

 exceptions to this very general rule. Some 

 varieties that are apt to become mealy or too 

 dry are better when gathered before they will 

 part by merely lifting up. Again, some that 



are too musky if allowed to hang till they part 

 very easily from the tree, should be gathered 

 before they are in that state. The Flemish 

 Beauty must be gathered before it has even 

 attained its full size; if it be allowed to hang 

 till it become of a fine red next the sun, 

 and thus acquire all its beauty, it is much 

 deteriorated in quality, and instead of being 

 melting, it becomes dry and musky. Some 

 very early Pears must be gathered at a par- 

 ticular time: if removed from the tree a little 

 too soon, they are watery and insipid; if a 

 little too late, their flesh becomes mealy, or 

 their flavour proves flat. Other early kinds 

 ripen in succession, and must be gathered 

 accordingly. Late varieties generally require 

 to remain on the tree as long as they can safely 

 be allowed to hang. 



The choicest Pears on walls and espaliers 

 should be gathered by taking hold of the stalk, 

 without touching the fruit itself, and without- 

 displacing the bloom upon its surface, for this 

 serves as a protection from moisture. The 

 fruit should be placed singly on shelves; late 

 sorts may be placed in a single layer in drawers 

 or shallow boxes, for in such they will have 

 a more equal temperature than on the open 

 shelves in the room, and a steady, cool tempera- 

 ture is an essential condition. 



Pears keep very well in clean, dry, silver 

 sand, also when packed in kiln -dried straw, 

 or in dried fern. Besides being employed for 

 keeping fruit late, the two last - mentioned 

 materials are well adapted for forwarding it, 

 and even for ripening it. If the fruit of a 

 variety which usually ripens in the end of 

 December is in abundance, and if a scarcity 

 should occur in the end of November, the later 

 ripening sort can be brought in condition to 

 supply the deficiency by packing it closely in 

 dry fern in a basket, and placing it in a warm 

 situation, say near a fire, and the fruit will 

 soon be fit for use. Many varieties that will 

 bear well in rather cold parts of the country, 

 in which, however, the fruit will not naturally 

 become melting, may be greatly improved by 

 packing them as above and keeping them warm. 

 The proper temperature will vary according to 

 the variety and the greater or less degree of 

 maturity which the fruit has acquired. Some 

 of the Pears should be kept in a very slight 

 heat, others of the same variety in a higher 

 temperature, and by this means the most suit- 

 able degree of heat may be ascertained. By the 

 above mode the quality of the fruit will be 

 greatly improved, much more, indeed, than 



