•January 12. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
285 
mucus in tho windpipe, or that peculiar metallic trumpet¬ 
like sound which is so characteristic of croup in children. 
The cases mentioned hy Drs. Horner and Ranking were 
evidently those of croup, or simple inflammation of the 
windpipe; they are described as occurring in fowls (not in 
chickens), and as yielding readily to antimonials. 
If these gentlemen will patiently wait until the spring, T 
have no doubt but that they will be able to discover a 
sufficient number of cases to induce them to modify the 
assertion that Gapes is only occasionally produced by para¬ 
sites. I repeat, from extensive experience, and 1 know- 
numbers of your readers will bear out my assertion, that 
true Gapes in chic/ccns is invariably produced by the presence 
of worms in the windpipe, and that spirit of turpentine, 
applied either directly, or by fumigation, is the most effect¬ 
ive remedy. At the same time, I am perfectly cognisant 
of the frequent existence, under other circumstances, of a 
simple, (and if my unprofessional readers will excuse a 
I technical term) idiopathic inflammation of the mucous 
; lining of the windpipe. 
Dr. Horner’s assertion, that the presence of parasites “is 
j quite compatible with, yea, perhaps necessary, to health,” is 
certainly one of the most extraordinary I ever met with; 
and if some professional D’lsraeli shall hereafter arise, will 
stand a fair chance of being embalmed amongst the 
“ curiosities of (medical) literature.” 
The medical profession are evidently in a state of the 
most benighted ignorance, for they all regard the presence 
of tape worms, and the other animals that infest the human 
body, as causing severe and sometimes fatal disease, and 
are in the habit of employing the most powerful medicines 
for their expulsion. 
I cannot conclude without returning my thanks to Dr. j 
Anthony for kindly forwarding the drawing of the worm 
which it would have been impossible for me to have fur¬ 
nished at this season of the year. Into the disagreement 
between him and Dr. Horner I have no inclination to 
enter, for I regard personal disputes as exceedingly unde¬ 
sirable in a public journal, and very uninteresting to the 
readers at large. I have, therefore, in my capacity as a 1 
regular correspondent to this journal, often refrained, even 
when sorely tempted, from entering into a personal discus- ; 
sion with my perpetual antagonist.— W. B. Teoetmeier, ! 
Willisden, near London. 
GROWING PEAR-TREES ON QUINCE 
STOCKS. 
Living, perhaps, in the most favoured locality under the 
sun for the cultivation of the Pear, viz., the Isle of Jersey, 
it may not be irrevalent, and I hope will not be considered 
obtrusive by your talented correspondent, “ R. E.” if I 
submit the following remarks to the perusal and attention 
of your readers. There is so much soundness of argument 
and apparent good judgment in the article he has written 
and published in one of your late numbers relative to the j 
comparative value of the free (Pear) and Quince stocks 
in their application to the purpose of growing this valuable 1 
and wholesome fruit, that I dare not say, “ we differ in ; 
opinion." Nay, I have learned much from his article; he 
may, possibly, learn something from mine. And, doubtless, j 
it may be observed in the perusal of these lines, that the 
object it is so desirable to prevent, i.e., too great an exten- | 
sion of the roots, may be realised without having recourse 
to what I consider the troublesome practice of constantly 
transplanting the trees, attended with certain loss of 
I time in a large establishment, where much ground is de¬ 
voted to gardening purposes, and many hands are kept, 
j and altogether incompatible and inconvenient in the ma- 
: nagement of small gardens. 
! My friends have been growing Pear-trees on Quince 
stocks for upwards of forty years, and I have been em¬ 
ployed in the same way for the last fifteen. I obtained 
| all the information I could from them, and then applied 
| my own wits to the subject, and I have cause to be much 
gratified with the result of my practice; and trust I may, 
! having shown the grounds on which I offer my opinions, 
| write confidently and freely on a subject I am so well and 
intimately acquainted with; and whilst my experience is 
limited to this favoured island alone, I have authority for 
stating that similar practice has produced similar results in 
many parts of the United Kingdom. In Cornwall, Devon¬ 
shire, Somersetshire, Hampshire, Essex, Suffolk, and other 
counties, and I dare to say it may be done generally, where 
suitable soil and situation is afforded. I, therefore, with 
due deference to the opinion of “R. E.,” “that until the 
public better understand, or better consider this question, 
it will be well for those who feel puzzled to grow Pears on 
the ordinary stock,” strongly recommend the Quince stock 
for the cultivation of the Pear; and whilst advocating and 
proving its efficiency for the purpose, strongly recommend 
all persons about to plant Pear-trees to adopt the plan, 
setting aside all idea and thought 
“ That he who plants pears, 
Plants for his heirs.” 
In the cultivation of the Pear on the Quince stock, it is 
necessary, in the first place, to procure good stocks (the 
Portugal variety is the best, as it grows most vigorously), 
which, if planted in a suitable soil in the fall of the year, 
will be fit for budding the ensuing August. By a suitable 
soil, I mean any soil that is rich, open, and moist, and in 
a sheltered situation. Should the soil in which it is conve¬ 
nient to plant them be of a stiff, retentive character, and 
rather dry in its nature (very dry soils in high situations 
will not suit), I would recommend that it should receive a 
good dressing of sea-sand, or lime and salt, the saline par¬ 
ticles of which retain their moisture, and are of immense 
benefit to stiff soils, both as to rendering them open, and 
also in enriching them at the same time, by imparting to 
them the benefit of the salts they contain. 
The stocks being planted, and having made a free and 
vigorous growth during the first season, I, as far as pos¬ 
sible, use the western and south-western sides of the stocks 
for the insertion of the buds, as the wind is more prevalent 
in this quarter of the globe from these than from any other 
points of the compass, the buds are thereby less exposed, 
and, consequently, less liable to be broken off by the wind. I 
do not bud until the middle or latter end of August, availing 
myself, if possible, of an opportunity after rain, as I always 
find the bark of the stocks run best at such times. I insert 
the buds within two or three inches of the ground (apply¬ 
ing the common X method in the practice), as I find the 
buds so placed always shoot off much stronger, and upon 
the first year's growth much of the after success depends. 
All the varieties do not do equally well on Quince bottoms, 
but the exceptions are very few. I have subjoined a list of 
a few of the best varieties, with their styles of growth, and 
periods of maturing their fruits. 
The buds having been carefully put in and tied require 
no further attention but looking to at the descent of the 
sap, so as to loosen and remove such ties as require it, 
and prevent their cutting the bark, paying the penalty of neg¬ 
ligence at this period of the plant’s growth, the results of 
which are unsightly carbuncles and disfigurements, from 
which the plant cannot be afterwards ridded, and which 
often causes stagnation in the flow of the sap, producing 
canker and irremediable disease. 
To this particular point I would call your readers attention 
—“ That unless a Pear-tree budded on a Quince stock is 
clean and freely grown it is not worth planting.” The 
only chance of succeeding with it, is to plant it a little 
below the bud, so as to induce it to root in its own wood, 
thus annulling, to a great extent, the utility of the Quince 
in bringing it to an early bearing state. 
In December, I carefully head the stocks down three 
inches above the bud, slanting the cut to the northward, so 
as to carry the wet from the bud; I, at the same time, 
remove the remainder of the ties. When the buds shoot 
off in the spring, I tie them carefully up to the upper part 
of the stock, pinching out the ends of the strongest shoots 
in the beginning of May: it must not be done later, as it 
would be useless, not allowing time for the perfection of 
the young wood, which, if not properly ripened, must be 
cut away at the next season’s pruning. 
In the first year's pruning, I cut the shoot or shoots 
short, the central shoot being left longer than tho others, 
and being careful in pruning the side-shoot or shoots to 
have an eye to the future formation of the tree, by leaving 
