162 
THOUGHTS UPON THE CULTURE OF THE PEAR. 
nectarine, however selected, can scarcely have their season protracted 
beyond four or live weeks when grown in the open air, yet if, in the 
selection of the various sorts, due attention be paid to the period of 
their ripening on the tree and after being gathered, pears may be 
furnished of the finest quality for about ten months out of the twelve: 
this, too, at such little trouble and expense, especially when not re¬ 
quiring a wall, as to be within the reach of every class of society, 
where there may be the command of a few roods of ground—a great 
consideration with every liberal mind. To promote this (in my opinion 
desirable) point, I am anxious to engage your assistance and that of 
your practical correspondents in ascertaining as far as possible the 
merits and qualities of the different varieties introduced of late years, 
when grown in the midland and northern counties, and especially as 
standards and espaliers, though of course any fresh information 
respecting their treatment, when trained against walls, would also be 
an acceptable addition. For the purpose of obtaining practical 
information on this head, I venture to suggest to such of your readers 
as may feel an interest in the subject, and will not grudge the trouble, 
some such table or register as I have myself adopted for a few seasons, 
and from which 1 add an extract in illustration. 
<D 
i 
2 
• 
o> 
4-3 
fee 
.5 
6 
fc 
4-3 
—> 
0> 
HH 
pL 
o 
£ 
Where prc 
cured. 
Names. 
Situation a 
Aspect. 
When in 1 
blossom. 
.c 
4-2 
ci 
to 
S3 
QJ 
r-> 
£ 
g5 
O 
O 
£ 
When broi 
to table, 
How long 
perfection 
17 
B 
1831 
Thirsk 
Passe Colmar 
S. Wall 
Mar. 15 
Sept. 
30 
162 
Oct. 30 
to Nov. 30 
15 
3 821 
York 
Cliaumontelle 
E. Wall 
25 
Oct. 
5 
220 
Nov. 10 
Jan. 4 
15 
A 
1826 
Ditto 
Ditto 
Standard 
25 
10 
84 
Dec. 4 
15 
19 
. 
B 
3 830 
Leigli 
Court 
Doyenne gris 
E. Wall 
16 
Sept. 
25 
120 
Oct. 4 
Oct. 20' 
* One accidentally left on the tree (sound and firm) till November 10th. 
The first and the last show the early age at which they bear. 
Regarding the chaumontelles, I wish to remark, that, although 
No. 15 was planted against an east wall in the year 1821, and grew 
well, yet it bore fruit for the first time only the same season as 
No. 15 A and another standard did, though planted five years later, 
and though the fruit of the first exceeded considerably the latter in 
size, yet not, I thought, in flavour. As another proof that the present 
use of the knife in wall-training considerably retards the growth of the 
tree and the production of fruit spurs, I may mention that of two 
Ashton Town pear trees, of equal size and good condition, planted five 
years ago, the one placed in the orchard as a standard blossomed 
abundantly last year, and would have borne a crop but for a severe 
