FRUIT CULTURE IN WISCONSIN. 
337 
other coarse gravel, and upon this fill six or eight inches of good 
garden loam, when the tree may be planted, following the di¬ 
rections, in every respect, as given for planting the apple—trees 
to be set tv T elve feet apart each way. 
As potash and lime enter largely into the composition of the 
bark and wood of the pear tree, it is found beneficial to apply 
wood ashes in any form; spread evenly upon tho surface and 
work it in. The pear tree should be planted cautiously by the 
western farmer, and those who are unwilling; to spend some time, 
each season for their well being, had better let them alone.— 
For general cultivation, I find that the pear worked upon the 
pear root is best. It may be brought into bearing much sooner 
by annually cutting back one-third of the current year’s growth 
the first of August. This, besides checking its growth and 
ripening its wood for winter, will be about all the pruning it 
will require. For gardens and amateur cultivation, the pear 
upon quince roots may be planted—eight feet either way—and 
with close attention and high cultivation, has given satisfac¬ 
tion. The soil must be deep and rich, of a sandy nature, and 
there must be plenty of well decomposed stable manure, mixed 
with lime and ashes. The tree selected for planting should be 
two years old, and worked as near the ground as possible, so 
that in planting the union may be covered, and still retain 
quince roots near the surface, as that is their natural position. 
In addition to the August pruning, cut back another third in 
the spring, before the buds open. For winter protection (and 
this applies to all large fruits) raise a mound two feet high, of 
dirt, around the tree in the fall, which may be leveled back in 
Spring, upon the opening of the buds, but the later it is left 
without injury to the tree, the better. Many use manure to be 
spread upon the land in the spring, and left as a mulching upon 
the surface. Where mice are not troublesome, it answers every 
purpose of the dirt. 
^Varieties. —The Bartlett, the Louise Bonne de Jersey, 
Swan’s Orange, and the White Doyenne are the best standard 
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