8 On the Transplantation of Blossom-buds. 



In the last autumn I repeated many similar experiments 

 upon the Pear and Peach-tree, and with equal success. An 

 old and unproductive Pear-tree, which grew upon a north- 

 west wall, was pruned very closely, so as to occasion the pro- 

 trusion of many strong succulent shoots; and into these, 

 apparent hlossom-buds of the true St. Germain and the 

 Winter Verte-longue Pears were inserted at different periods. 

 Many of these were inserted in the end of July and in the 

 beginning of August ; and these generally vegetated soon 

 afterwards, and afforded leaves only ; and the remainder, 

 which did not then vegetate, still continued mere leaf-buds. 

 But most of those which were not inserted till the end of 

 August, or the beginning of September, have succeeded most 

 perfectly, and are now beginning to unfold with greater 

 vigour than the buds of the trees from which they were 

 taken ; and I do not entertain any doubt that they will 

 afford, under favourable circumstances, very fine fruit. 



I found those buds of the Pear-tree to succeed best which 

 had formed upon the bases of abortive bunches of blossoms 

 of the preceding year ; and that, instead of taking out the 

 wood of the bud wholly, as usual, it was most advantageous 

 to let it remain in small quantities, and being pared very thin. 



Some buds were inserted into seedling plants of four 

 months old only, and others into yearling plants ; and these 

 succeeded so far as to live perfectly : but they were inserted 

 in the end of July, and, like the others, removed at that 

 period, these remain leaf-buds. I am, however, much in- 

 clined to believe, that Pears might be obtained even from 

 yearling trees in pots, though such fruit would probably be 

 without flavour or richness, and consequently not worth 



