50S 
DWARF STANDARD PEAR-TREES. 
resl time \i that in which plants can most 
Bafely be removed. In fact, at this period 
plants are more perfectly at rest than at any 
Other period, in consequence of their excita- 
bility being then exhausted by a season of 
growth ; and hence at this period they may 
be most safely removed. It was previously 
remarked that heat and. moisture were power- 
ful agents in forwarding the growth of plants. 
As regards heat, autumn-planted trees have 
the advantage of the earth being warmed by 
the summer's sun ; and this warmth is very 
grateful to the roots, and induces them to grow 
and repair their injuries before winter arrives ; 
but when planted in spring, the earth is chilled, 
and the roots lie torpid, while the warmth of 
the air excites the branches, and the plant 
struggles hard to maintain its vitality. Again, 
as regards moisture, in the autumn the air is 
mostly charged with moisture, and, conse- 
quently, so much is not abstracted from the 
plants ; whilst in spring the parching wind, 
and increasing power of the sun, together dry 
up the moisture of the plant very rapidly 
indeed. In opposition to autumn planting, it 
is sometimes urged that the plants in damp 
soils suffer from the excess of moisture ; but 
this is no argument ; for soils liable to any 
excess of this kind are not in a fit state to be 
planted at all until they are drained, and the 
excess of moisture carried off. 
TRAINING AND PRUNING. 
TVe have not now to do with trees which 
are most usually technically called trained; 
that is, such as have their branches spread out 
against a wall, or fence, or even those which 
are trained flatwise to stakes, which latter is 
better known as "espalier training." All 
these are termed " trained " according to the 
technical sense of the word in gardening lan- 
guage. Our object is' with what are called 
dwarf standard trees ; or, in other words, trees 
having a single stem, and whose branches are 
not allowed to extend more than two or three 
feet on each side of that stem, nor to rise more 
than seven or eight feet from the ground. 
This object is sometimes obtained by pruning 
and placing the branches in a manner si- 
milar to that in which gooseberry and currant 
bushes are managed ; that is, to keep all except 
the main branches " spurred in," or cut nearly 
close back, while the centre of the tree is left 
open and free, the branches being kept, as 
nearly as possible, to form the circumference 
of the tree. "With the very weakest growing 
varieties this plan sometimes answers ; but the 
trees are liable to outgrow it, and then no 
advantage is gained. According to this plan, 
the principal shoots are cut back when they 
have reached the intended full size of the tree. 
The two principal methods which are here 
recommended as having the greatest advan- 
tages, are what are termed en quenouille, or 
distaff training, and the umbrella, or pendulous 
training. 
It is desirable here to state, that trees 
intended fortius purpose should be grafted on 
the Quince stock, instead of what is termed 
the free stock : the latter are stocks raised 
from the seeds or pips of Pear-trees, and trees 
grafted on them grow much more vigorously 
than when on Quince stocks, and are conse- 
quently less suitable for being kept in a 
dwarf state. Quince stocks have been con- 
demned, as tending to render some of the 
varieties gritty and of bad flavour ; but this is 
not found to be the case when the trees are 
properly planted in situations prepared and 
adapted to them ; consequently the evil is not 
to be attributed to the use of these stocks. One 
advantage is gained, which more than counter- 
balances any slight disadvantage that may 
attend their use, and that is, that they aid the 
dwarfing process, by growing less freely than 
Pear stocks, and, consequently, tending to 
prevent luxuriance in the branches. If these 
are well furnished with fibrous roots, when 
taken from the nursery to be permanently 
planted, (too often they are not furnished so 
well as might be desired,) there is little fear of 
their making satisfactory progress afterwards ; 
and if what has been said of preparing the soil, 
and planting the trees, is attended to, they will 
maintain their health and moderate vigour for 
a long time, and continue to yield good crops 
of well-perfected fruit. Quince stocks are, 
however, better adapted for clay soils than for 
gravelly ones. Mr. Seton, in the " Transac- 
tions of the Horticultural Society of London" 
remarks, that he has found a stiff clayey or 
loamy soil generally unfavourable to Pear- 
trees ; but that Quinces, and Pears grafted 
on Quince stocks, thrive exceedingly in it. 
Soils of this nature being prevalent in many 
parts of this country, the means are thus 
afforded, by the use of Quince stocks, to persons 
in such situations, of cultivating to advantage 
many varieties of Pears, which would never 
bear fruit in sufficient quantities if grafted on 
their own species. On the other hand, he has 
noticed, that, in a light gravelly soil, with a 
gravelly or sandy bottom, Pear-trees succeed 
better than Quinces, and in such situations, 
Pear stocks will, of course, be preferable. 
Before entering on a description of the 
modes of training about to be spoken of, it 
may be well to notice briefly the manner in 
which the branches of a Pear-tree are produced. 
A one-year-old shoot, after the fall of the leaf, 
is simply furnished with small buds similar to 
that at (a) ; some of these buds generally pro 
duce shoots the following season, just like that 
which bears them ; others do not elongate in 
