146 
Garden Work 
the farther they get from the main stem, and other 
branches laid in to fill the wider spaces towards the out- 
side. 
The horizontal system consists in having a central 
stem with the branches running horizontally away from it. 
When well done, this system looks very attractive. Great 
care must be exercised in selecting the branches. These 
should be healthy and vigorous, because, if one fails after 
it has been started, it may spoil the appearance of the tree 
for years or even permanently. The branches should be 
as nearly as possible 12 in. apart, and the two lower ones 
should be kept in an oblique position for a few years, until 
they are quite strong, when they may be gradually taken 
down. 
The Pear is often grown as cordons, and good crops 
of the finest quality are often obtained from such trees. 
The only care necessary for cordons is to see that they 
are well studded with fruit spurs from base to apex. To 
do this it is necessary to cut the whole shoot back, to 
make sure that plenty of spurs will be formed. The spurs 
themselves will occasionally require pruning, and this 
should not be neglected, as nothing looks worse than to 
see long, straggling spurs, 1 ft. to 18 in. in length, 
growing out from small trees. This can be avoided by 
a judicious use of the knife at pruning time, in cutting 
off those spurs that show a tendency to run away. One 
need not be afraid of cutting off a fruit bud here and 
there, as it only helps to strengthen those that are left. 
A great many pears do not ripen on the tree, and only 
mature when kept in the fruit room. Again, some will 
keep for months when stored, while others soon decay, 
