Pears
Wherever Apples are a success Pears will grow. As a rule, theyare best grown dwarf. On light soils they should be grafted on to Pear
stocks, but on heavy soils they are best worked on the Quince. The
fruiting of young trees
may be accelerated by lifting them when about
five years old, spreading out the roots 1 ft. below the surface of the
soil, and mulching the ground. The mulching should be raked off in the
spring, the ground lightly stirred with a fork and left to sweeten,
and another mulching applied when the weather becomes hot and dry.
In pruning, leave the leading branches untouched, but let all cross
shoots be removed, and the young wood be cut away in sufficient
quantity to produce a well-balanced tree, and so equalise the flow
of sap. Some of the pruning may be done in summer, but directly the
leaves fall is the time to perform the main work. A good syringing
once a week with the garden hose will keep the trees vigorous and free
from insects. Should scab make its appearance on the leaves, spray
them occasionally with Bordeaux Mixture, using the minimum strength at
first, and a stronger application afterwards if necessary. There
are over 500 varieties of Pears, so it is no easy matter to give a
selection to suit all tastes, but a few may be named as most likely to
give satisfaction. Louise Bonne de Jersey succeeds in almost any soil
and in any situation, is a great favourite, and ripens its fruit in
October. Beurre Giffard makes a fine standard, and ripens in July.
Beurre Hardy is delicious in October and November. Doyenne du Comice
is one of the best-flavoured, and is very prolific. Beurre d'Amanlis
ripens in August. Williams's Bon Chretien, Aston Town, Pitmaston
Duchess, Clapp's Favourite, Comte de Lamy, and Josephine de Malines
are all reliable for dessert, while for stewing purposes Catillac,
Black Pear of Worcester, Verulam, and Vicar of Winkfield are among the
best. In orchards standards should be from 20 to 25 ft. apart; dwarfs
12 ft. to 1 rod.
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