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espaliers where the trees are kept low, the fruit will not be so much exposed to the strong winds in 
autumn as those on the standards, therefore can be in no danger of the fruit coming to perfection; 
and as the trees in espaliers will be constantly pruned, and managed in the same manner as those 
against walls, the fruit will be as large on those trees; therefore, where a person has a warm situa¬ 
tion and a kindly soil, I would not advise the being at an expence to build walls on purpose for 
Pears, but to plant them against espaliers: and where there is any one who is very curious in having 
plenty of these fruit, and will be at the expence to procure them, I should advise having a sufficient 
quantity of Reed mats made to fix up against the back of the espalier in the spring, when the trees 
are in blossom, which will screen them from cold winds, and preserve the tender fruit until they are 
past danger, when the Reeds may be taken down, and put under a shed to preserve them from the 
weather; and if the autumn should prove bad, these Reeds may be fixed up again, which will for¬ 
ward the ripening of the fruit, and also prevent the winds from blowing down, and bruising it. 
But after the fruit is set and growing, there will be farther care necessary in order to have the 
fruit good; for it is not enough to have preserved a good crop of fruit on the trees, and then leave 
them entirely to nature during the season of their growth, but there will require some skill and 
attendance on the trees to help nature, or supply the deficiency of seasons; for beside the pruning 
and training trees in the manner before directed, there will also be wanting some management of 
their roots, according to the nature of the soil, and the difference of seasons. In all strong land, 
where the ground is apt to bind very hard in dry weather, the surface of the borders should be now 
and then forked over to loosen the earth, which will admit the showers and dews to penetrate and 
moisten the ground, and be of great service to the trees and fruit, and also prevent the growth of 
weeds. And if the soil is light and dry, and the season should prove hot and dry, there should be 
large hollows made round the stems of the trees to hold water; and into each of these there 
should be poured eight or nine pots of water, which should be repeated once in a week or ten days 
during the months of June and July, if the season should continue dry. There should also be some 
mulch laid over the surface of these hollows, to prevent the sun and air from drying the ground. 
Where this is practised, the fruit will be kept constantly growing, and prove large and plump; 
whereas, if this is omitted, the fruit will often be small, grow crooked, crack, and fall off from the 
trees. For if the fruit is once stinted in their growth, and rain should fall plentifully after, it will 
occasion a great quantity of fruit to fall off the trees, and those which never receive any check in 
their growth; and it is from this cause, that some years the fruit in general decays before the usual 
time. For after it has been for some time stinted in its growth, and then the season proves favour¬ 
able, whereby it receives a sudden growth, it becomes so replete with juice, as to distend the vessels 
too suddenly, so that they will not be firm, which occasions their decay; therefore it is always best 
to keep the fruit constantly in a growing state, whereby it will acquire a proper size, and be ren¬ 
dered better flavoured. 
There will also be required some dressing to the ground near the fruit-trees; but this should be 
different, according to the nature of the soil; if the land is warm and dry, then the dressing should 
be of very rotten dung, mixed with loam; and if this is mixed six or eight months before it is laid 
upon the borders, and three or four times turned over, it will be the better; as will also the mixture, 
if it is made with neat’s or hog’s dung, both which are colder than horse-dung, so more proper for 
hot land. But in cold stiff land, rotten horse dung, mixed with light sandy earth, or sea-coal ashes, 
will be the most proper, as this will loosen the ground and add a warmth to it. 
These dressings should be repeated every other year, otherwise the trees will not thrive so well, 
nor will the fruit be so good. For, notwithstanding what many persons have advanced to the con- 
trary, yet experience is against them; for the finest fruit in England, both as to size and flavour, is 
