300 



PEAR. 



The tree, however, requires a great deal of ma- 

 nagement to have it in proper form, to keep it 

 healthy and fruitful. The soil most suitable for it is 

 a light hazel loam, rather shallow than deep, and on 

 a hard, dry subsoil. 



The author could give a very succinct account and 

 history of a jargonelle pear tree, which he had the 

 management of from the year 1779 to 1789, as proof 

 of the tractableness and prolificacy of the kind ; but 

 as he fears this would be tedious to the reader, he 

 will content himself with briefly stating, that a young 

 standard tree was planted, in the first-named year, 

 upon the side of a dwelling-house having a due south 

 aspect. Lateral branches were trained right and 

 left, and a central upright was led zigzagly up- 

 wards, to form horizontals to cover the spaces on 

 each side of the central stem. In the third year 

 from planting, the tree began to bear. In the fifth 

 year, thirty dozens were gathered. In the seventh 

 year, the tree yielded nearly fifty dozens. In the 

 ninth summer, the crop gathered amounted to nearly 

 fourscore dozens, an immense return for so young a 

 tree. 



In the training of this tree the knife was but little 

 used, except when additional shoots were wanted to 

 fill up : all redundant, foreright, or misplaced shoots 

 were rubbed off as soon as they appeared. By these 

 means every branch and shoot soon became covered 

 with fruitful spurs ; and no portion of the strength 

 of the tree was wasted in the production of useless 

 growth, the whole being directed into the desired 



