File:The gardener's assistant; a practical and scientific exposition of the art of gardening in all its branches (1910) (14598055579).jpg

Identifier: gardenersassista04thom (find matches)
Title: The gardener's assistant; a practical and scientific exposition of the art of gardening in all its branches
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Thompson, Robert, 1798-1869 Watson, William, 1858-1925
Subjects: Gardening Horticulture
Publisher: London : The Gresham Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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ar is saidto have originated in that country several centuries ago. Theprototype of Garden Pears, Pyrus communis, a native of Europeand Western Asia, and not uncommon in our hedgerows, has small,hard, somewhat dry fruits. The process of evolution which hasresulted in the large, luscious fruits of the best garden sorts hasbeen very slow; at first by the selection of wildings or chanceseedlings in cultivation, but latterly by cross-breeding or inter-crossing the best varieties. It is usual to graft the varieties oneither the wild Pear or the Quince, the latter producing as a rulethe most satisfactory results, whilst trees on the former stock,though slower in coming to fruitfulness, are much longer-lived.The extent to which Pears are grown in some districts in Franceis shown in the statement that upwards of 700 tons of the fruithave been sent away from one station (Angers) between Julyand January. The varieties represented in the Plate are threeof the best dessert Pears grown in England.
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PEARS. 129 tremely liable to be affected by severe frost.All these derangements from unseasonable andimperfect growth tend to favour attacks ofcanker; and as they recur more or less fre-quently, so will the tree be affected in a greateror less degree. Although it has been recommended to encou-rage growth as soon as the weather is favour-able, yet where there appears to be a dispositionto canker, a rapid and over-vigorous vegetationshould be guarded against. The use of rankmanures must be particularly avoided; whilst,on the contrary, the application of fresh soilwill prove advantageous. The special anddirect treatment of this disease and otherfungus attacks are dealt with in the chapter onPlant Diseases. Insects, &c.—For descriptions of the insectsand other enemies of the Pear, see the chapteron this subject, where references will be foundto the following:— Bark Enemies.—Apple Mussel Scale, PearOyster Scale, Pear Sucker, Wceberian Tortrix.Bud and Flower Enemies. — Apple Blo

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