104 GROUP IV. MIDLAND COUNTIES NORTH. RUTLANDSHIRE. 



situations ; and are careful when planting or replanting not to 

 mix any manure below the surface of the soil, but find a mulching 

 of long litter very beneficial the first season. As long as the 

 growth continues vigorous w^e give no manure, unless the trees 

 should have a very heavy crop of frui': ; but if there seems any 

 danger of the trees getting into an exhausted condition, a radius 

 of about 5 feet round the stem of the trees is bared until the 

 roots are exposed ; a good dressing of Avell-decomposed manure 

 is given and the soil returned over it again. If the growth gets 

 at any time too vigorous for fruiting, a trench is dug round the 

 tree about 4 feet from the stem, deep enough to cut off a'll the 

 roots ; and, in extreme cases, the trees are lifted up and replanted. 

 No pruning is done in summer until the first growth is 

 finished, wdien all shoots not required to extend the tree are 

 shortened to about 6 inches in length, and at the winter pruning 

 these are shortened again, leaving three good buds. The young 

 shoots at the ends of the main branches are left entire at the 

 summer pruning if it is desired to extend, the size of the tree, 

 and in winter are shortened to 15 inches. Stocks preferred are 

 the Quince for wet and heavy soils, and the Pear for light and 

 dry soils. 



2. — John Grey, Normanton Gardens, Stamford. 



Number of Varieties Exhibited ... ... ... ... 28 



Observations. — -Examples very good, Doyenne du Cornice, 

 Glou Mor9eau, and Huyshe's Victoria being very meritorious ; 

 also the following, from wall trees: Beurre Diel, Glou Morceau, 

 Marie Louise, and Nec Plus Meuris. 



Exhibitor s Bemarlis. — Situation, sheltered ; ground inclining 

 to the north. Tender sorts of Pears do not succeed very well 

 here, excepting on walls having a southern aspect. I prefer the 

 Pear stock for our dr}^ cool soil, with a little root-pruning 

 occasionally, the trees sooji come into bearing ; but in gardens of 

 a limited extent, the cropping of the borders with vegetables is 

 somewhat detrimental to the fruit trees on the walls. I prune 

 my trees on the cordon principle, whether bash, standard, or 

 espalier, each branch extended and spurred in, forming a 

 multiple of cordons, giving the plants a light and airy appear- 

 ance. I do not advocate too early summer pinching, particularly 

 for trees on the Pear stock. 



