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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Early varieties also succeed very well as single cordons 

 planted on the margins of walks and trained overhead to form 

 an arched avenue. They are thus both profitable and pleasant to 

 look upon, especially when they are carrying valuable cargoes of 

 rich ripe fruit. Some of the best varieties for this purpose are : 

 Beurre Giffard (the best early Pear), Beurre de l'Assomption, 

 Clapp's Favourite, Doyenne Boussoch, Williams' Bon Chretien, 

 Emile d'Heyst, Madame Treyve, Beurre d'Amanlis, Dr. Jules 

 Guyot, Magnate, and Souvenir de Congres. These same 

 varieties also succeed well as dwarf open bushes, or as pyramids 

 on Quince stocks. Beurre Hardy makes a splendid bush, very 

 handsome, planted 9 feet apart on the margins of walks, 

 or in an open sunny quarter of the garden, planted in quincunx 

 order, 9 feet each way, and this will often be found the most 

 convenient arrangement for netting against the attacks of 

 tomtits and other destructive birds during the ripening period. 



It is not every man who calls himself a gardener who under- 

 stands priming. We have ample proof of this in many gardens 

 where the average jobbing gardener is employed. Pruning is an 

 operation that can only be learnt by long training and patient 

 experience, and by a study of the differing habits and require- 

 ments of different varieties of Pears. For instance, some are 

 naturally of erect growth, others open growers ; whilst others, 

 again, partake of a partially drooping character. There are also 

 those kinds which form some of their best flower-buds on the 

 extremities of their branches, notably Marie Louise, and there- 

 fore each sort, or each group of sorts, requires different manipu- 

 lation and individual consideration. 



I have touched upon pruning because, before we can get good 

 Pears, it is absolutely necessary we should have good trees. 

 The skilful primer will always carry his mind well forward and 

 be careful to lay the foundation of a good model tree. In the 

 case of bush, pyramid, or standard trees in the open, every branch 

 should have sufficient space allowed it to form itself into a well- 

 furnished, cordon-like style of branch, with fruit-spurs regularly 

 placed from the base to the summit. Avoid over-cropping. When 

 once the balance is struck, pruning of whatever kind will be 

 reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the fact must not be 

 overlooked that, to maintain Pear or other trees fruitful and 

 healthy for any length of time, some extension of growth must 



