THE HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



it is hardly worth, while to name suckers as a means 

 of propagation. 



PLANTING. 

 The matter of planting has been so exhaustively 

 dealt with in regard to the Apple (pages 249 to 253, 

 Vol. II.) that it hardly seems needful to add much 

 in regard to Pears, the general culture of which is 

 almost identical ; yet so important are Pears in a 

 personal, pomological, and national point of view, 

 that it will he wiser to run the risk of repetition than 

 to leave anything unwritten that would interest or 

 assist the general public. 



Soil for the Pear.— In choosing a soil for 

 the Pear it must be borne in mind that early 

 and constant fertility for a quarter or half a 

 century are the chief qualities for which we most 

 prize the Pear ; and among our first steps towards 

 these attainments are the two arts of keeping 

 its roots up and its tops down. The foundation of 

 these must be laid in skilful planting, else will 

 other efforts prove nugatory. Its boring tenden- 

 cies may be arrested by amputation. This, for the 

 moment, is a complete remedy ; but unless it kills the 

 tree tne remedy is but temporary. With new roots 

 comes the old boring tendency and power, and not 

 seldom the last result of severely pruning Pear-trees 

 has been worse than the first. Or the old roots may 

 be finally got rid of. Finding the tendency of Pear- 

 roots to run deeper and yet deeper down, the Pear is 

 furnished with foster-roots on the Quince, that skim 

 the surface. 



But allurement is really the higher art, and may 

 prove equally or more successful without resource to 

 such violent remedies. Recognising to the full the 

 descending character and boring tendency of Pear- 

 roots, it is yet possible to tempt them by gentle 

 means into the best feeding-ground, and to keep 

 them there by other methods than amputation, or 

 the substitution of foreign roots for their own. 

 Two courses are useful to this end, the removal 

 of all substances that are hurtful or distasteful to 

 the Pear-roots, and providing them with all that is 

 most attractive in the exact spot they are desired to 

 occupy. 



Where stagnant water exists it is useless to 

 attempt growing Pears until it is removed. For 

 the roots of Pears will not only find it sooner than 

 those of Apples, but they will suffer more from it. 

 Pears do fairly well in inferior soil and under un- 

 favourable conditions of site and climate ; but stag- 

 nant water at or close to their roots is fatal ; a dry 

 base is, therefore, the foundation of their successful 

 culture. 



The importance of a deep tilth will be obvious 

 76 



from what has already been stated. A mean of 

 three feet has been given, but twice three to the 

 water-line would be far safer, as on moist soils the 

 water will rise several feet above the water- 

 line, through the constant action and ceaseless 

 energy of capillary attraction. This destroys the 

 texture and converts in time the finest soil into 

 something approaching sheer mud, totally unfit for 

 the culture of Pears. Hence a porous bottom is 

 essential to Pear-culture, and over this from thirty 

 inches to a yard or some four feet of good soil. 



The same soil as recommended for Apples will do 

 well for Pears ; a good holding fibrous loam, rather 

 heavy than light, being the most suitable for durable 

 results. Loams from old and moderately fat pas T 

 tures, or roadsides, are the very best for Pears, 

 and such loams should have no additions whatever. 

 Once in full possession of such tempting soils, the 

 roots seldom hurry out of them, and they, after a 

 time, may have stronger and more attractive allure- 

 ments provided for them in the form of surface 

 mulching of manure or rich composts. These pro- 

 vide food in plenty, without any of the textural or 

 other drawbacks incident to the use of solid manure 

 in the composts. 



The question of the best soil for Pears is, however, 

 further complicated by that of stocks. Practically 

 there may be said to be but two stocks for the Pear r , 

 the Quince and the wilding or seedling Pears* 

 The Quince is not only more of a surface rooter than 

 the Pear, but is far less particular about site and 

 soil, and thrives under a far greater variety of con- 

 ditions — for example, in lighter soils and damper 

 situations. (See also Soils for Apples, pages 28 and. 

 29, Vol. II.) 



Sites and Shelter for Pears. — In discussing 

 the bearing of stocks on soil, we have already touched 

 on this subject, and have also referred to it at length 

 in regard to Apples (page 27, Vol. II.). From the 

 fact of Pears blooming earlier, they are yet more 

 liable to injury, and the wreck of a crop often occurs 

 from spring frosts in the trough of a valley, while 

 those higher up on broken or rolling ground escape. 

 In many districts the finer Pears need the shelter 

 of dividing or encircling hedges or walls to bring 

 them to perfection. Kitchen or fruit gardens in 

 exposed situations should also have a second pro- 

 tecting line of shrubbery beyond the walls ; and 

 these secondary shelters should never, as they 

 mostly do, follow the line of the walls, but pro- 

 ceed round the garden in a series of bold curves,., 

 the greatest convexity of the curves invariably 

 presenting themselves to the force of prevailing 

 winds, as these throw off and scatter to either side., 

 most potently and efficiently, the currents of cold air. 



