112 
DWARF STANDARD TEAR-TREES. 
vigorous growth, beyond a certain point, is 
directly opposed to the production of fruit, and 
therefore not to be desired in fruit-bearing trees. 
When the tree is once formed, the sub- 
sequent management and pruning is very 
simple. All the wood shoots that are produced 
arc to be cut back nearly close, for the purpose 
of forming them into bearing spurs : this may 
be done either by summer pruning, or winter 
pruning, but the former is certainly preferable, 
as tending to husband the energies of the 
trees, and to exercise them profitably. If 
summer pruning is practised, it consists in 
pinching off the points of the young shoot 
when two or three inches long, subsequently 
following up this practice throughout the 
season, as already alluded to. If winter 
pruning is preferred, the shoot should be cut 
back to the small incipient eyes, which may 
be observed within about an inch of the base : 
these incipient buds may, for the most part, 
be expected to develop themselves as fruit 
spurs, if the tree is not growing too vigorously. 
Root pruning is sometimes strongly recom- 
mended for these small fruit trees. There 
can be no doubt that, if skilfully performed, 
this, as well as any other means of checking 
luxuriance, will cause a corresponding degree 
of fruitfulness ; but as it involves a good deal 
of trouble and labour, and practical knowledge, 
it cannot be generally recommended. Besides, 
too, it must be admitted that it is an unnatural 
process. "We would rather secure a fruitful 
development of the plant by attention to the 
soil, and the manner of planting the trees, and 
managing the branches. 
To sum up in few words what may be said 
of root-pruning ; if a tree is growing mode- 
rately, and producing fair average crops of 
fruit, it requires no interference with its roots ; 
but if, on the other hand, a tree is growing 
very vigorously, to the manifest injury of its 
fruitfulness, then to have it taken up and 
replanted, shortening back some of the 
strongest of the roots at the same time, is the 
most likely means that can be adopted to bring 
it to a state of fruitfulness. 
The renovation of old worn-out trees of this 
character is a matter of considerable interest, 
and also of practical utility ; it is, moreover, a 
thing which can be accomplished. When 
planted for any length of time, there is a pro- 
pensity in the roots of trees to strike down- 
wards, and this is often alone sufficient to 
produce all the evil that may be complained 
of; for when the roots have penetrated the 
raw, cold, crude subsoil, the cankering and 
decay of the branches, and the cracking of the 
fruit, are results that may be anticipated. In 
the process of renovation, the first thing is to 
take up the trees, and see that the soil is 
altered, prepared, and drained, in accordance 
with the foregoing instructions ; then the roots 
are to be well cut in ; all the perpendicular 
ones quite removed, and the strongest of the 
horizontal ones severely shortened back, leaving 
the fibrous parts near the stem untouched. 
The heads of the trees are also to be cut quite 
back, leaving the main branches only a foot or 
so in length from the principal stem ; the 
plants, which then look like bare stumps, are 
next to be planted, taking care to keep the 
base of the stem well up above the general 
level, and to have the roots laid out carefully 
in a horizontal direction. The stems should 
be very well supported against winds by the 
process of staking already noticed. All this 
should be done in autumn ; and in the fol- 
lowing spring, if the varieties are not approved 
of, more choice or favourite kinds may be 
grafted on the old branches, and thus both the 
trees and the collection of varieties may be 
renovated together. During the winter, the 
ground about the roots should be covered with 
a thin mulching of half-rotten tree-leaves, or 
long littery dung from the yard or stable, in 
order to keep off the frost, and serve as a pro- 
tection to the roots which are near to the sur- 
face. Care must be taken that the young 
shoots, which break forth in abundance, are 
not left too thick, so as to crowd and injure 
each other ; they should be thinned out as 
soon as their relative strength can be deter- 
mined, reserving a good leading shoot to each, 
and treating the others for the production of 
spurs. The same must be done if grafting is 
resorted to, though, in this latter case, it will 
generally be found to be desirable to remove 
entirely all the shoots put forth by the stock, 
unless indeed more than one variety is intended 
to be grown on the tree. 
The principal features of management are — 
to plant on well-drained and well-prepared 
ground, not too rich ; to plant high, and early 
in autumn ; to employ healthy, well-rooted 
plants ; to lay the roots out horizontally ; to 
prune in summer ; and to mulch the roots 
during winter, and in dry weather. 
CHOICE OF VARIETIES. 
The following Selected and Descriptive List 
contains most of the best sorts of Pears which 
are suitable for dwarf standards. The descrip- 
tive particulars represent about the average 
state under the respective heads ; but all are 
liable to vary, more or less, in the season : 
thus, a dry, warm summer will cause the fruit 
to ripen earlier, generally improve the flavour, 
heighten the colour, and often diminish the 
size, while it will frequently happen that the 
fruit will keep better. Other particulars must 
be allowed for. A small selection of the very 
best kinds, to keep a succession, are marked 
with an asterisk. 
