9 fit 
gansel's bergamot peak. 
GANSEL'S BEKGAMOT PEAK. 
By Mr. J. TOWERS, C.M.H.S. 
Sfi'/IHE following remarks liave been elicited by the perusal of Mr. Errington's capital article on 
U. " The tying-down system -with fruit-trees " (I., 293 — 6). I have no desire to criticise. I only 
suggest that, to obviate any difficulty which a tyro in the art of pruning may encounter, Mr. Erring- 
ton would obligate by explaining his precise application of the term collar as it occurred in p. 294. 
In the ordinary acceptation of the term, the collar is understood to mean that part of a stem where 
the ascending and descending trunk of a tree meet — the former to produce the branches, the latter 
the divisions and ramifications of the root. But that central point of union could not, in the present 
case, have been implied. Not, however, to trespass farther, I proceed to copy what is said in 
Lindley's Orchard and Kitchen Garden (p. 358) : — " GanseVs Bergamot. — This most excellent Pear 
is a native of our own country, as appears by a letter from David Jebb, Esq., of Worcester, to John 
Williams, Esq., of Pitmaston, hi 1818, in which he says — ' The Gansel's Bergamot was obtained from 
a seed of the autumn Bergamot, by his uncle, Lieutenant-General Gansel, at his seat at Donneland 
Hill, near Colchester, about half a century ago, namely in 1768.' It is much too tender to bear as 
an open standard in any part of England, nor does it succeed as an espalier; it requires an east or a 
south-east wall, where it ripens perfectly." 
The last remark is undoubtedly correct ; the fruit so situated will, doubtless, come to complete 
maturity; but that the tree is a most shy setter appears to be equally unquestionable. Fertility 
can be induced, as I hope to prove by the following veracious narrative : — Allien I resided in Berk- 
shire I frequently inspected the fine old garden of Shottesbrook Park, then, and I believe now, 
under the able management of Mr. Gillett. The walls of the main garden I should estimate at 
fully fourteen feet in height, and against one of them, which commanded a westerly aspect (I forget 
the exact point), there stood one of the very finest Gansel's Pears in the kingdom. I dare not mention 
the extent right and left of its horizontally-trained branches from one vast main trunk. Hundreds 
of persons of all ranks, who came from all parts to visit the beautiful locality, and to inspect the fine 
old church, with its noble Yew close to the garden-wall, could attest the truth of any fair description 
I might venture to give of this grand Pear-tree. But it had one defect, which, during the course of 
many years, rendered it perfectly, or all but, useless ; it could not, by any effort of the gardener, be 
made to bear a crop of fruit. The spin's, however regulated or pruned, were barren, and had attained 
a vast size, amounting to a useless deformity. At length it occurred to Mr. Gillett to renew the tree, 
and this he did gradually, and with the caution of experienced wisdom. He began by cutting back 
very low, and, in some cases, by amputating a moderate number of the old bushy spurs. In due 
time, as spring advanced, new wood was developed close home to, or very near, the base of each spur 
at its emergence from a main branch. One such shoot was selected from a spur, so conveniently 
situated as to be trained horizontally, exactly between the old main horizontals. By a steady per- 
sistence in this mode of treatment, every old spur was obliterated, and its place supplied by a shoot, 
which produced in succession a series of young spurs and fruitful eyes, that blossomed, set their fruit, 
and brought it to maturity. 
Now, let any competent judge of fruit-trees picture to his mind's eye such a tree as I have 
attempted to describe, with a large trunk, furnished on each side with about twelve main branches, 
which, as an approximation, we may suppose to extend fifty feet in length, all supporting a complete 
series of fruitful secondaries, so as to form, as it were, as many fresh trees. AAliat a feeling of 
delight would he not experience ! As a closing remark, I cannot but think that any one who has 
charge of a barren tree, whose renewal he would thus attempt to effect, might call in aid Mr. 
Errington's method of " tying-down " with good results, as thereby the fruit-buds might be developed 
on the new shoots at an earlier period. 
♦ 
Inrrru Untomj.-- 3klm for, %\\\i\\, i%llinm. 
tT appears probable that the substances above enumerated — Balsam, Myrrh, and Bdellium — are 
obtained from the species of Balsamodendron represented in the accompanying engravings ; though 
it is proper to state, at the outset, that the subject is beset with difficulties, and the probability is 
that no certain conclusion can ever be arrived at from the indistinct notices which occur in the Sacred 
records. We shall, however, endeavour briefly to indicate the opinions at which biblical scholars have 
arrived. 
First, of the Balm or Balsam. This, perhaps, bears two names in the original Hebrew, tzeri 
fa 
U 
