I8 
R. G. CHASE & CO., GENEVA, N. Y. 
DWARF PEAR CULTURE. 
The great demand for dwarf pears for some time past has induced us to propagate a 
number of choice kinds as sucli; for this purpose wn use the best French quince stocks. 
The advantage to be gained by planting dwarfs are, that the first expense is less, the 
trees -will commence bearing very early, and not only pay for themselves, but yield a 
profit sufficient to allow the owner to incur the additional expense of planting an orchard 
of standards, that Ihey are adapted to gardens and small enclosures, and lastly that some 
varieties arc greatly improved by working them on the quince, the fruit being more 
delicious and the tree more productive. 
We are aware that in some sections the tide is running against dwarf pears. We are 
perfectly willing that they should be excluded from the orchards of those who neither 
favor nor practice high or even liberal culture, hut because a tree will not withstand all 
the neglect of careless and shiftless cultivators, is far from being a good reason for its 
condemnation. 
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Massachusetts, than whom there is no better authority 
in this country, says he has had a great deal of experience with dwarf pear trees during 
the past forty years, and is strongly in favor of them on account of their early bearing. 
Two-thirds of his collections were originally on quince roots, and by using this stock he 
has been able to furnisli himself with fruit in a very few years. His system has been 
to plant standards sixteen feet apart witli dwarfs between, and when the standards grow 
so large as to require all the room transplant the dwarfs, which have rooted from the 
pear, to other situations. In regard to the durability of dwarf trees, he has some which, 
though not rooted from the pear, are more than thirty years old, and bear regularly 
more than a barrel a year. 
In order to succeed with dwarf pears the planter must give his trees good care and 
attention. 
If the soil does not naturally drain itself, it should be underdrained, then plowed and 
manured the same as for corn. 
If tlie ground is in good condition it is not necessary to dig a large hole, but one of 
sufficient depth to allow the bunch, caused by budding the pear on quince, to come 
about an inch below the surface, tlicn fill in the fine soil and tread firmly, the same as 
in planting any other tree. The object in deep planting is to allow the pear to take 
root and eventually become a standard. 
Pruning.— Do not expect to achieve good results without a thorough system of 
pruning. 
When the young tree is planted, at least two-thirds of the previous years' growth 
should be removed, taking care however to preserve the pyramidal form of the tree. 
This system should be followed each year, removing two-thirds of the season's growth. 
Pruning may be done any time from November to March. If the annual pruning is 
neglected, or the trees are turned out to grass, great results may not be expected. 
