The pear-loving and pear-cultivating public, have of late years had their attention frequently called to the advantage of growing pear trees worked upon quince stock, both by the writers upon such themes, and by the nurserymen interested in supplying their wants. The advantages and objections to the practice, have been fully discussed by many, and now nearly every one who reads horticultural books, or attends horticultural meetings, knows something about them from experience or observation. Still, there are many who plant their trees, and are disappointed in their own case, and perhaps are disposed to blame those who have led them into the experiment.

My present purpose is not to give any new views of cultivation and management, but simply again to call attention to a few important features which have been before ably Bet forth, but which are often overlooked by cultivators, who proceed upon the supposition that the same treatment which enabled them to gather pears from trees upon pear stocks, will answer equally well with those upon quince. I desire to remove this mistaken idea, and at the same time encourage the cultivation of this most desirable fruit, in the most satisfactory and economical method.

If we examine the roots of a quince, we find that they are numerous, but not large or long; they do not extend to any great depth in the soil; nor are they inclined to spread a long distance from the stem or collar of the tree; consequently, the supply of food and sustain leaves and branches, is of course proportioned to the resources of its roots. If, now, we graft a pear tree upon it, whose range of limbs, and of course, of leaves and fruit, is large, and which is provided by nature with corresponding roots, extending deep into the earth, securing firmness to the trunk and moisture to the leaves, without by some artificial means, providing for this disproportion of parts, we must inevitably fail of full success.

In proof of this, we find that those who have planted dwarf pears in grass grounds, without giving them further care, and those who grow them in rich, well cultivated soil, but neglect to diminish the tops sufficiently to enable the quince roots to sustain the tree firmly, as well as those who have allowed their healthy and beautiful pyramids to support an enormous load of fruit while yet in infancy, thereby so exhausting its energy that two or three years nursing becomes necessary, before it is again useful, are not usually very strong advocates for pyramid, or dwarf trees; their own experience, certainly, would not warrant them in recommending their adoption, and if this were the best that could be expected of them, all men would agree, that the less we see of them the better we shall be off.

The obvious methods of avoiding the evils which I have pointed out, are, to secure to the plant a sufficient supply of food, by manuring more highly and frequently than we find necessary for the pear stock, by planting in such soils as do not suffer severely from drouth, by frequent stirring of the soil with spade or hoe, and most especially by abundant mulching; added to this it is indispensibie, to reduce the size of the top, by pruning in the winter or spring, and also in some cases during the summer, though I apprehend we shall not in many instances, do so, with that care and patience which M. Cappe, and other eminent foreigners have seen fit to bestow on their pets.

One thing is certain, the man who is not willing to pay some regard to the peculiarities of the position in which the pear is placed when worked upon quince, need not expect to gather as abundantly and continually, as some men do, who have never given a thought to their noble Bartletts and Doyennes beyond stripping from their laden boughs, the luscious fruits, with which nature has crowned the year. But to the good cultivator who can afford to spare an hour, now and then, to care for the wants of his silent laborers, there is an abundant and sure reward laid up, in the vigor, beauty and productiveness of this class of trees. H. E. Hooker.