326 



well grown, one year old stock, in pre^renee to all 

 others, for the following reasons : — Trees of this 

 age cost about one half as much ,' when planted in 

 the orchard they will become more uniform in 

 shape and size, with less labor ; the purchaser will 

 get more roots in comparison to the tops, and tlie 

 freight will not average more than one-quarter 

 for one hundred one year olds, and will not occupy 

 less space than twenty-five or thirty two years oM 

 trees. 



The distance apart that trees should be planted 

 in the orchard depends somewhat on the mode of 

 pruning to be adopted, and the use to be made 

 of the ground between the rows. "In case the 

 trees are trained tall, with spreading tops, the dis- 

 tance, both between the rows and the trees in the 

 row, must be more than if the conical shape is 

 chosen. When the latter mode is adopted, dwarfs 

 may be set 10 by 10, and standards 12 by 36, At 

 these distances we find by experience, on our place, 

 there is enough room for all practical purposes. 

 No matter how far the trees are set apart, it is ne» 

 cessary to take out some wood from many of the 

 more vigorous trees, so the sun and air can readily 

 penetrate to the centre of the tree. 



Planting. — Every thing should be in readiness 

 before the trees are taken to the field, and the roots 

 should not be left exposed to the sun or dry air. 

 All broken or bruised roots should be cut off be- 

 fore the tree is planted. Dwarfs should be set so 

 that from four to six inches of the Pear stock will 

 be below thn surface. Standards may be set a few 

 inches deeper than where they stood in the nursery 

 row. Each root should be drawn out to its full 

 length, and fine surface earth shaken around it. 

 When the hole is filled, press the earth firmly 

 around the body of the tree, so the roots will not 

 be displaced by the swaying of the top. At the 

 time of planting I always use some finely ground 

 bone or super-phosphate of lime to mix with the 

 earth that comes in the immediate vicinity of the 

 roots. Trees that have been out of the grouad for 

 a long time, and suffered from exposure ot carelfess 

 packing, I have frequently saved, by immersing the 

 roots, for two or three hours before planting, in 

 water, having added finely powdered bone or super- 

 phosphate of lime. In this connection I will state 

 that, under no consideration, would I be tempted 

 to apply to our orchard any unfermented fertilizLer. 



Pruning. — It is no longer a disputed point 

 among intelligent fruit growers, that a judicious sys- 

 system of pruning is all-important. When the form of 

 the tree is decided upon, then the main object should 

 be to encourage an upward and outward growth. 



Fnder a proper system of pruning, the tree should 

 bear its fruit on the main branches, near the centre. 

 Except the wood is thinned out in such a way as to- 

 admit air and light freely, ihe fruit in the interior 

 of the tree will be inferior, both m size and quality. 



When pear trees are left uncut, the shoots of 

 many varieties grow closely together, the huds 

 nearest the base of each branch become dormant^ 

 and the fruit spurs are formed on the ends of these 

 long branches, the position least suited to sustain 

 the weight of fruit. Of late years we have 

 adopted the eonical! shape, both for standards and 

 dwarfs, for the following reasons, which we have 

 found to stand the test of practice: — 



1st. The largest surface is nearest the ground,, 

 and, therefore^ less likely to suffer from heavy 

 winds. 



2d. The fi'uit is not inj^ured when, falling from 

 the tree. 



Sd. l^ss surface is shaded with the pyramidal 

 than with higher and more spreading forms of 

 growth. 



4th. The truek is not exposed to the direet rays 

 of the sun, and, consequently, the flow of sap is- 

 not accelerated, as would otherwise be the result. 



5th. The fruit spurs are formed on the main, 

 branches, near the body of the tree, and, of course, 

 a greater weight of fruit will be sustained with the 

 least injury to the tree. 



Under our present method, the yonng tree, whes 

 set in place, consists of a single upright shoot.. 

 This is cut back, soon after planting, to a point 

 where the side braoches are wanted. Having 

 plenty of room, these side branches will be more 

 regularly distributed ; and with some judgment and 

 attention in cutting back and thinning out, a tree 

 will be formed that wit? bear heavy burdens of 

 fruit without injury. There are many vaiieties of 

 pears whose habits of growth are regular; the 

 branches having a tendency to an upward and an 

 outward growth, requiring but little attention from- 

 the owner to make well formed trees. The Barfc- 

 lett, Buchesse d'Angouleme and Sheldon are speci- 

 mens belonging to this class. There are other 

 kinds whose habits of growth are spreading and ir- 

 regular. These require closer attention during the 

 first, second and third year after planting, to keep- 

 them uniform in size and shape. For the latter 

 class the priming or cutting will depend on the po- 

 sition of the branch or bud. If it is necessary to 

 have a shoot go straight up, then select a bud on 

 the inside of the shoot ; while if, on the contrary, 

 an opposite or side deviation is wanted, select a bud 

 pointing in either direction. 



