THE CULTIVATOR. 
378 
1848. 
on seats without backs, and so high that their feet can¬ 
not touch, much less rest cm the floor. Nothing but the 
fear of punishment, or its frequent application, can keep 
a live child still under such circumstances, and even 
that cannot do it long. Who has not an aching remem¬ 
brance of the torture of this unnatural confinement, and 
the burning sense of injustice, for punishment inflicted 
for some unavoidable manifestation of uneasiness and 
pain ? Even though the seats are as comfortable as 
can be made, young children cannot and should not be 
kept still upon them long at a time, and never without 
something innocent or useful to do; and under no cir 
cumstances longer than twenty-five or thirty minutes 
in one position, nor so long at one study, and that with 
frequent and free exercise in the open air. To accom¬ 
plish this, great and radical changes in the views and 
practice of teachers, parents, and the community at 
large must take place. Nowhere, in the whole depart¬ 
ment of practical education, is a gradual change more 
needed, or should sooner be commenced.’ ” 
Conical Dwarf Pear Tree. 
This form of training pear trees has been deemed, by 
some experienced cultivators, to give the greatest quan- 
tity and best quality of fruit. Downing suggests that 
the best way to grow trees in this form, is to choose a 
tree of but one year’s growth, from the graft, as older 
trees are apt to be bare of branches at the lower part 
of their stems. The leading shoot of the young tree is 
to be shortened back to within a foot or eighteen inches 
of the ground, at the time of planting it. This will 
develope the lower branches ; to encourage the growth 
of which still more, it is well to shorten back the lead¬ 
ing shoot, about the first of July. This will, about the 
middle of the growth the next spring, cause to start 
out another tier of branches, a foot above the last. The 
next summer, in July, the leader is again cut back to 
within a foot of the last tier, which will cause the 
growth of a third set, and this must be repeated every 
year till the tree is from 6 to 10 feet high, as the taste 
of the cultivator may direct. It is considered better to 
pinch off the ends of such side-shoots as are inclined to 
grow too long, than to prune them. 
Spirea Prunifolla. 
Ihis beautiful shrub, which was introduced into 
Europe by Dr. Siebold, is thus described. It was 
found cultivated in the Japanese gardens, and is sup¬ 
posed to be a native of the north of China. It is from 
6 to 9 feet high, and has upright, close, bushy, slender 
branches, which are covered with a smooth, ash-colored 
bark ; that detaches itself at a later period in thin scales. 
The leaves are oval, or ovate-elliptic, rounded at their 
base, obtuse, or a little acute at their apex, downy be¬ 
neath, denticulated at the edge. The flowers, which 
grow by threes or sixes, cover the whole length of the 
branches, are as white as snow, and very double, in 
consequence of a complete abortion of their stamens. 
Their shape is exactly like that of the Ranunculus 
aconitifolius, with double flowers, and their number and 
arrangement, together with a light and elegant bright 
green foliage, render this plant a charming addition to 
the plants which grow in the open air. 
