[.78] 



XIX. On the Culture of the Pear Tree. By Thomas Andrew 

 Knight, Esq. F. R. S. $c. President. 



Read May 18, 1813. 



Th e Pear Tree exercises the patience of the Planter during 

 a longer period before it affords fruit, than any other grafted 

 tree, which finds a place in our gardens ; and though it is 

 subsequently very long lived, it generally, when trained to a 

 wall, becomes in a few years unproductive of fruit, except at 

 the extremities of its lateral branches. Both these defects are, 

 however, I have good reason to believe, the result of improper 

 management ; for I have lately succeeded most perfectly in 

 rendering my old trees very productive in every part ; and 

 my ijoung trees have almost always afforded fruit, the second 

 year after being grafted; and none have remained barren 

 beyond the third year. 



In detailing the mode of pruning and culture, I have 

 adopted, I shall probably more easily render myself intelli- 

 gible, by describing accurately, the management of a single 

 tree of each. 



An old St. Germain Pear Tree, of the spurious kind, had 

 been trained in the fan form, against a north west wall in my 

 garden, and the central branches, as usually happens in old 

 trees thus trained, had long reached the top of the wall, and 

 had become wholly unproductive. The other branches afford- 

 ed but very little fruit, and that never acquiring maturity, was 



