DWARF STANDARD TEAR-TREES. 
503 
therefore be given until these become mature, 
when it may be decreased until they are 
brought to a state of rest for the season. 
DWARF STANDARD PEAR-TREES : 
THEIR CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT. 
A kitchen-garden, properly so called, — 
that is to say, a space of ground allotted for the 
production of a constant supply of vegetables, 
whether it be of limited, or of almost unlimited 
extent, — ought not to be planted with fruit- 
trees designed to assume their natural tree- 
like form of growth. Without entering into 
the many reasons which may be advanced to 
support this position, it may be mentioned, 
that the shade of the trees is, for the most 
part, opposed to the production of good crops 
of healthy vegetables, while the roots, of 
course, abstract fertility from the soil ; and, at 
the same time, the constant digging and trench- 
ing, and manuring of the soil absolutely re- 
quired to secure good vegetable crops, is 
detrimental to the healthfulness, and, conse- 
quently, the fertility of the trees. The broad 
fact may be assumed, then, that fruit and vege- 
table crops should not be cultivated together 
on the same ground ; and this fact is admitted 
by all good gardeners at the present day, 
though the amateur may not have had an 
opportunity of being made fully acquainted 
with this admission. 
Fruit-trees, then, which are allowed to attain 
something like their natural size, and to grow, 
in a manner, but little restricted — in other 
words, what are known as standard fruit-trees, 
— should be planted by themselves in a space 
of ground devoted to the especial purpose. 
Such fruits as the Apple, the Pear, the Quince, 
the Medlar, the Cherry, the Plum, and some 
others, are now specially referred to. Standard 
trees of these kinds of fruit ought to be planted 
together in a separate department ; and such 
an association of fruit-trees constitutes an 
orchard. With the management of an orchard 
we have now no concern. 
There are cases, no doubt, where a portion 
of ground cannot conveniently be allotted as 
an orchard ; and, in such cases as these, there 
is a means of cultivating a certain proportion 
of such fruits as may be required without 
interfering, in the slightest degree, with the 
vegetable crops. This is effected by various 
methods of training, by which the trees are 
kept dwarf, and of small diameter ; and they 
are confined to a single row next the walks, 
leaving the greater part of the ground free 
and open for the vegetable crops. A garden 
planted in this way has always a very pretty 
and appropriate character, and a very great 
bulk of fruit, especially of the choicer kinds, is 
to be obtained by these means. 
In those establishments where orchards can 
be formed, at least in those of modern date, 
the kitchen-garden is planted in a similar 
manner, with dwarf trees variously trained, 
consisting of all the finer varieties of pears, 
apples, &c, while the commoner and less 
valuable kinds are grown in the orchard. 
The object of the present article is to direct 
attention to the planting and management of 
dwarf standard pear trees, cultivated in the 
manner, and for the purposes referred to above. 
It will be convenient to divide the subject into 
the heads of soil, planting, pruning, and train- 
ing, offering also some incidental remarks on 
the propagation of plants for this special pur- 
pose. 
SOIL. 
The proper selection and preparation of the 
soil are points of the utmost importance, being, 
in fact, the foundation either of success or 
failure in the produce of the trees. Lest this 
should be thought to be too sweeping a state- 
ment, it may be observed, that deep planting, 
either in rich or in badly-drained soil, will re- 
spectively cause rank and barren growth, or 
disease, such as canker, &c. ; whilst shallow 
and elevated planting, in properly prepared 
soil, will be a means of causing moderate and 
healthy growth, and of inducing fertility. 
The soil which has been found to be the 
most suitable to the growth of the Pear-tree, 
is one of a loamy nature ; and of loamy soils, 
such as contain a considerable proportion of 
alumina, or clay, are preferable to those which 
abound too much in silica. The preponderance 
of the alumina must not, however, be to such 
an extent as to render the soil more than 
moderately retentive of moisture ; for when 
such is the case, no plant, and especially a 
fruit-bearing tree, can be expected to thrive, 
and continue in a healthy and fruitful condi- 
tion. On the other hand, the proportion of 
silica must not be too abundant, for this would 
be productive of the opposite extreme ; the 
rain-water would pass downwards too rapidly, 
carrying with it, in its progress, not only its 
