1868 . ] 
THE CULTURE OF PEAR TREES IN POTS. 
51 
in pots, such houses should not be of a less height than 13 or 14 feet in 
the centre, and 6 feet at the sides. Pear trees under glass often bloom 
early in April, and unless the house they are in is lofty, one of our extra- 
severe spring frosts may come and destroy the blossoms. The injury, it is 
true, may be prevented by using pans of charcoal, as in orchard houses ; 
but the end to be attained in Pear culture is security without much care, 
and this is best attained by having the house large and lofty, so as to con¬ 
tain a large body of heated air after a sunny day in spring, succeeded by 
a severe frost at night. 
Being much struck the past season by the size and beauty of the Pears 
grown here on trees in pots, it led to a calculation as to the profit that 
might be derived from it as a commercial speculation. The result of the 
calculation was extraordinary. Pear trees on Quince stocks, trained as 
pyramids, five years old, and from 5 to 6 feet in height, of such large Pears 
as G-lou Morceau, Doyenne du Comice, Beurre Diel, Duchesse d’Angouleme, 
and many others of the same size, averaged from twelve to eighteen each, 
the fruit remarkable for their bright colours and clear rinds, without spot 
or blemish. Fine and well-grown large Pears during the winter months, 
at a low average, are worth 3s. a-dozen. So that from two thousand trees, 
always safe from storms and frosts while in bloom, we may estimate an 
annual crop of 2500 dozens of Pears. This may, when the trees attain 
the age of seven or ten years, be put down at 3500 dozens. When it is 
considered that a thousand dozens of Pears are worth £150, it will be seen 
that a house of Pears may be made a source of profit. So much for grow¬ 
ing Pears commercially, for which purpose only large and good Pears 
should be cultivated. Small Pears, however delicious, are useless for 
market, and should be grown by amateurs only. 
The labour required by a large number of Pear trees is not heavy, the 
routine of culture being as follows, which I give in the form of a calendar :— 
1. —The trees should have their surface soil renewed to a depth of 3 inches towards the 
end of October, and the pots stowed thickly in the house by the last week. They should 
then have a soaking of water, and be covered with leaves, as is before mentioned. 
2. —About the middle of March, unless the weather be very severe, they should be 
uncovered, and, after their abstinence of four months, have a moderate supply of water. 
"While in bloom, if the weather be mild, the side shutters and doors may be open night and 
day ; if frosty, by day only. Instead of top-dressing or renewing the soil in October, it will 
be a saving of labour to treat Pear trees in pots after the manner recommended for Apricots 
— i.e., to allow the surface of the mould in the pots to remain undisturbed till after the trees 
have set their fruit; and on their removal to their summer quarters, to scrape off a small 
portion of it, say to the depth of 1 inch, and give the rich surface-dressing recommended. 
This intermission of the autumnal renewal of the surface soil may go on for two, three, or 
more years, or till the trees seem to require either top-dressing or repotting. 
3. —The first week in June they should all be removed to their summer quarters, and the 
pots plunged. During the summer every young shoot should be pinched to three leaves, 
and the fruit thinned. This is of great consequence. At this season manure water will 
greatly benefit the fruit by increasing its size. 
4. —During the winter, if any of the spurs on which the leaves have been pinched, have 
grown so as to make the tree irregular in shape, they should be shortened with a sharp knife. 
