CHAPTER II.

On Pears, Plums, Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Grape Vines, &c. &c.

ON PEARS.

Par 77.—What has already been said on the culture of apples, will generally apply to pears ; the budding, grafting, pruning, and general management being the same, excepting that they are worked on different stocks. The stock which is generally used, (and which is decidedly the best for standard pear trees,) is raised from the seed of the small wild pear, which like the true crab is more durable than those grown from other pears, It has many years been the practice in France, and several parts of the Con

tinent, to graft pears on quince stocks, and in this country they have been found to answer extremely well as dwarfs, for they come into bearing much earlier than those on the pear stock, and the fruit exceedingly fine, and by keeping them spurred like dwarf apple trees, they may be kept within any compass you wish, as they do not grow near so strong as those on the pear stock.

Many sorts of pears, which are generally grown against walls, have got the name of bad bearers through bad pruning, it being a general method to spur them all indiscriminately; at the same time, some sorts scarcely ever bloom, except at the extremities of the young shoots, therefore, if they are removed it is impossible to have fruit.

This may be easily remedied, when you have discovered which sorts bear at the ends of the shoot, by leaving a sufficient quantity of young wood for that purpose.

The confusion in the names of pears is quite equal to the apples; I shall therefore confine myself in the explanatory list of pears which

follows, to such sorts as are known to be good; and such as are sufficient for all purposes.

EXPLANATORY LIST OF PEARS.

Par. 78.-1. Green Chisel; this is a small green pear, very full of juice, and is remarkably sweet; it will ripen in early seasons in July.

2. Present de Malines; this pear is suited either for the wall or standard; in form much like Williams's Bonchretien; smooth skin, and when ripe of a yellow colour; the flesh is melting, and of a rich musky flavour, it is generally a good bearer, and ripens late in the autumn.

3. Jargonelle; this a fine early pear, ripe about August; it is of a green colour with a little russet next the sun,-it generally bears well.

4. Windsor Pear; this is very fine fruit if eaten in proper season; it is of a green colour, but when quite ripe turns yellow; it should be eaten just as it begins to change colour, or it will soon become mealy and good for nothing; it ripens about the end of August.

5. Hambden Burgamot; this is rather a large

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pear, fine melting flesh and full of juice it is ripe about the end of September.

6. Autumn Burgamot; this pear, which is of rather a small size, and handsomely formed, is one of the finest flavoured melting pears in cultivation; it is perfection in October.

7. Crasanne; this is a very fine pear for the wall; the flesh is very tender, and full of fine sweet juice; I know not so good a pear in December and the beginning of January.`

8. Colmar, is a fine rich sweet pear; it is best adapted for the wall, being a bad bearer as a standard; it is in perfection about January.

9. Virgoleuse; this is a fine melting pear, full of rich juice; it would be more generally cultivated, but in wet seasons they are very apt to crack; it ripens about the end of December.

10. St. Germain; this is a very fine melting pear, full of juice and a general bearer; an east wall will bring the fruit to the greatest perfection; at the same time, they will do well as standards in sheltered situations; they are ready for the dessert in December, and I have eaten them in March.

11. Spanish Bonchretien; this is a good winter pear, and rather generally admired; it grows large against a wall, and will keep till January.

12. Brown Beurre ; this is one of the best late autumn pears we have; they do best against a wall, where they will grow large, of a brown colour, and rather tinged with red; it is a fine juicy melter; and is in perfection through November.

13. Winter Bonchretien ; this is highly esteemed for its long keeping; it is very large, ful! of rich juice, and will keep till June.

14. Chaumontelle; this is a fine rich juicy pear; is a great bearer either as a dwarf or standard, and will come into eating in December.

15. Poire D'Auch; this is a handsome green pear of excellent flavour; is a good bearer, and I may add, there are but few winter pears which equal it; it is fine from December to the end of March:-it is best suited for the wall.

16. Citron D'Carlmes; this is rather a small pear of a greenish colour, it is a great bearer, and is ripe in July.