CHAP. VII.J 
THE PEAR. 
223 
against a wall, in order that they may be 
used as riders between dwarf plums or 
peaches. Pear-trees generally bear better 
as espaliers, or dwarf standards than against 
a wall, and this has been attributed to rather 
a curious reason. The stamens of the pear 
have naturally very little farina; and where 
the blossoms are exposed to great heat, and 
have little air circulating round them, as is 
the case with wall-trees, the pollen is very 
apt to dry up without fertilizing the stigma. 
The blossoms of espaliers and dwarf stand¬ 
ards are exposed to less heat and more air 
than those of wall-trees; and thus their 
pollen is more likely to perform its natural 
functions. The truth of this observation 
has been proved by shading the blossoms 
of a wall pear-tree during the whole period 
of their expansion, and fanning them with 
an artificial current of air by means of bel¬ 
lows, when it was found that more than twice 
the usual quantity of fruit was produced. 
Espalier pear-trees have generally a very 
rough appearance, from their rugged pro¬ 
jecting spurs; but dwarf standards both look 
and bear well. It has, however, been as- 
