450 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



or pyramids, where the soil consists chiefly of 

 clay, it is certain that trees grafted on pear 

 stocks will in general be found to possess too 

 much vigour, and will be long before they come 

 into a bearing state. For such a soil trees must 

 be chosen that are grafted on the quince stock ; 

 and this offers no inconvenience for espaliers, 

 though it will not answer so well for pyramids. 

 The quince stock forms no strong roots in the 

 soil, and hence the tree cannot resist strong 

 winds if it is not supported by stakes, and the 

 inconvenience of employing these supports is 

 well known. The bark of the trunk becomes 

 bruised by rubbing against them, and the 

 branches are liable to be broken. To avoid 

 these inconveniences, we recommend giving pre- 

 ference to pyramid trees that have been grafted 

 on pear stocks. At the same time, attention 

 must be paid that for a strong and rich soil only 

 those varieties should be chosen, the wood of 

 which is not too vigorous in its growth. There 

 is a great number of that kind, in the varieties 

 with delicate fruit. For standards, those varie- 

 ties are chosen that grow strongest, and form 

 short and thick wood. 



"In a light and deep soil, with an airy situation, 

 it is certain that, nearly without an exception, all 

 varieties will succeed if on pear stocks, pyramids 

 as well as standards. If a tree grafted on a pear 

 stock, and trained as an espalier, grows too 

 strong, the roots must be pruned to keep up the 

 equilibrium, and to force the tree into a bear- 

 ing state. 



" In pruning, care must be taken that in those 

 varieties of vigorous growth the fruiting branches 

 be left somewhat longer, while those of a mid- 

 dling growth should have them a little shorter. 

 It is an error, though it has been stated in a 

 much diffused and much consulted work, that 

 fruit obtained from trees grafted on the quince 

 stock are superior to fruit obtained from trees 

 on pear stocks. It is known in general, and we 

 have observed it more than once, that several 

 varieties of pears cultivated on quince stocks 

 and trained as espaliers, produce finer fruit than 

 pyramids or standards on pear or free stocks, but 

 it has not as yet been proved in Belgium that 

 the fruit has been of better quality." The above 

 remarks are, according to M. J. de Jonghe, 

 applicable to the climate of Belgium, and, with 

 the exception of climate, to Britain also ; their 

 summer months — June, July, and August — be- 

 ing warmer than ours, which favours greatly the 

 swelling of the fruit and maturity of the wood. 

 Their winters are much colder than ours, and 

 their springs and autumns much the same. The 

 pears of Belgium are much hardier than those 

 of Jersey or of France, and consequently better 

 adapted to our climate. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, a proper distinction has not, in general, 

 been made between those of the one country 

 and the other. The French and Jersey pears 

 require both a fine warm light soil and good 

 climate, and therefore must be very precarious 

 with us, even upon walls, unless in the very 

 warmest localities ; nor are they adapted to the 

 strong cold clay soils in which we often see them 

 planted, and as often recommended as the most 

 fitting for them. "We err, also, in growing all 



kinds, both of French, Jersey, and Belgian ori- 

 gin, indiscriminately on quince stocks, and graft- 

 ing from such a source for our future supply of 

 trees. There is great discrimination also re- 

 quired as to the time of the fruit remaining on 

 the trees, and on its proper treatment in the fruit- 

 room. In gardens in moderately sheltered places 

 both in England and most of Scotland, the har- 

 dier strong-growing sorts of Flemish pears will 

 succeed almost as well as pyramids as they do 

 in most parts of Belgium ; and fruit so pro- 

 duced, if not so large, is better in quality than 

 the same sorts grown against walls. The 

 Beurre Diel, for example, although not consi- 

 dered a first-rate pear in Belgium, ripens at Dal- 

 keith on pyramids and standards abundantly, 

 and forms one of our next to best sections of 

 pears. Much confusion has also arisen in the 

 nomenclature ; most of them having French 

 names cannot well be distinguished in cata- 

 logues from those of France and Jersey, as the 

 authorities are seldom given. 



Although the Flemish or Belgian pears, even 

 of the best varieties, succeed admirably in such 

 a climate when wrought on pear or free stocks, 

 still in most parts of Britain, where our soil is 

 colder and often stronger, the same sorts will 

 not ripen with us so well as if wrought on 

 quince stocks. This forms an important ele- 

 ment in their success, and should guide the 

 purchaser in making selections from the Bel- 

 gian nurseries. Mr Rivers, who has studied 

 the culture of the pear both on the Continent 

 and in Britain, advocates greatly the use of quince 

 stocks for all the finer varieties ; and even for the 

 hardier kinds, if they are to be planted in strong 

 soils and cold situations. " In recommending 

 pears on quince stocks," he remarks, "for all 

 cold soils and situations, even in the far north, 

 I may appear theoretical, but from my own ex- 

 perience in some very cold and clayey soils in 

 this neighbourhood [Sawbridge worth], I feel 

 sanguine as to the result ; for I have observed, 

 in my frequent visits to the pear gardens of 

 France, that many sorts are often too ripe. 

 Now this is just the tendency we require. In our 

 cold and moist climate, most certainly pears 

 will not get too ripe, more especially in the 

 north of England and in Scotland." In select- 

 ing pears it is of no small importance to choose 

 those that will succeed each other, so as to keep 

 up a supply throughout the year. During the 

 latter end of summer and autumn we have 

 abundance of good pears to meet the demand ; 

 besides, at that time we have other fruits in 

 high perfection. It is therefore from Christmas 

 until forced grapes, peaches, &c, come in, that 

 pears form of themselves the principal part of 

 the dessert. The varieties of 'Belgian pears 

 raised at Malines by the late Major Esperen are 

 deserving of especial consideration for this pur- 

 pose ; and of those, Josephine de Malines, Suzette 

 de Batay, Beurre Bretonneau, Cassanthe de 

 Mars, and Begamote Esperen, may be offered as 

 examples. 



Regarding the proper management of the 

 pear, Mr Rivers observes, in his recently pub- 

 lished " Catalogue of Fruits for 1853-1854," after 

 stating the great importance of biennial remov- 



