138 
THE FLORIST. 
FRUIT CULTURE.—No. X. 
BY MR. POWELL, ROYAL GARDENS, FROGMORE. 
(Continued from page 80 .) 
THE PEAR. 
This fruit tree is commonlly grown in all temperate climes, and it has 
been truly said that France and Belgium is “the garden of the Pear,” 
where it produces its fruit in the highest state of perfection with 
comparatively little care. In this country we are not so favoured, but 
have to contend with a changeable climate and damp atmosphere that 
are not exactly compatible with their successful cultivation as open 
standards ; therefore, under these circumstances, many things suggest 
themselves to the fruit grower to compensate in a measure for the 
disadvantage of a cold climate, and doubtless more care and artificial 
treatment are bestowed on the Pear in this country than in any other. 
However, with the assistance of walls, trellises, bush-trees, pyramids, 
&c., together with skilful treatment, fruit for size and quality are 
produced that cannot be well surpassed; this is proved by the quality 
of the fruit brought together from all parts of the country at our 
great autumn exhibitions. 
The most suitable soil for the growth of the Pear is a dry free loam, 
moderately strong, with a dry subsoil and a natural drainage of clean 
gravel below, otherwise a stony soil on a bed of chalk, for it is better for 
the health of the trees to have a wet surface than wet subsoil, as it 
sometimes happens in sandy ground when the surface appears dry and 
parched it is continually saturated with wet below, which is generally 
the reverse in strong loam or retentive clay soils. 
Although that above mentioned is the best, there are other soils 
where the Pear will thrive well if they be well drained and a little atten¬ 
tion given to root pruning,—both having a tendency to fructify the trees 
and prevent canker. If Pear trees cannot be made to thrive in any 
local spot by proper drainage, which always should be the first point 
under consideration, other means ought to be adopted, and the wall- 
borders or other places prepared for the reception of the trees ; the latter 
is done by removing the original soil to the depth of two or three feet, 
according to the nature of the soil below, and from four to six feet wide, 
the whole depending on the space the tree is intended to occupy. This 
done, make the bottom quite firm by ramming down a good coating of 
chalk or brick rubbish to prevent the roots penetrating the soil below, 
and drained to carry away the superfluous water; then fill up with 
good free turfy loam without manure, treading it moderately firm as 
the work proceeds. If the trees should at any future time be growing 
over luxuriantly to be fruitful (which seldom occurs when the places 
have been properly prepared), a trench should be dug at the margin 
of the prepared place, and the roots cut. 
The greatest drawback to Pear culture in this country is a tendency 
to make late summer growth, and when such takes place the trees are 
very susceptible of canker—a disease occasioned by frozen sap in the 
