FRUITS. — VARIETIES AND CULTURE. 



399 



branches within a foot of the ground, and to encourage 

 its growth in its natural pyramidal shape. 



Not much pruning is required the first year ; "but any 

 shoot that, by over-growth, threatens to destroy the 

 beauty of the tree should be pinched in at once. When 

 the tree is transplanted, if it has been out of the ground for 

 any length of time it must be severely shortened in. If 

 the tree has good roots, the top will soon be renewed. 

 Severe pruning at this time is the only way to make the 

 tree branch out near the ground, so as to shade the trunk 

 and give a fine pyramidal shape. To secure this, plant 

 maiden trees, or those one year old from the bud. When 

 they have grown one year, cut back the branches in 

 the winter; pinch in any shoots, during the summer, 

 that would mar the symmetry of the tree, or remove them 

 entirely, if superfluous. 



Head back the leader each year, to strengthen the side 

 branches. The leader must be shortened more or less, 

 according to its vigor. A little practice will enable any 

 one of ordinary judgment to form his trees in the desired 

 shape. Do not let the branches remain so close together 

 that, when they come to bear, they will cause the fruit and 

 foliage in the interior to suffer from want of air ; keep the 

 lower shoots the longest by pinching those above, when 

 disposed to overgrow them. This makes a beautiful tree, 

 ornamental even for a flower garden. 



The great obstacle in pear culture is the blight, a 

 disease whose virulence is almost peculiar to this fruit 

 tree. The causes are not well known ; some attribute 

 it to insects, others to electrical causes, and others to 

 atmospheric causes, and yet others to late and immature 

 growth of wood, which is frozen the subsequent winter. 



Yet, notwithstanding all these theories and proposed 

 remedies, the blight goes on from year to year with un- 

 abated violence. 



With us, the past three years have been particularly 



