I have grown pears, plums, cherries and mulberries for many years, and have written many articles about the first two fruits; yet, in preparing this work, I found that I had still much to learn, and I wish particularly to express my obligations to the new edition of Thompson's Gardener's Assistant, edited in six volumes by Mr Watson, Assistant Curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and brought out by the Gresham Publishing Company. I have also derived valuable aid from the volumes of the Royal Horticultural Society. The chapter on "cherries" is based chiefly on the booklet contributed by Mr G. Bunyard to my Helpful Hints for Hard Times published by the S.P.C.K.

E. B.

Wakes Colne Rectory, Essex,
July 1902.

CONTENTS

PAGE
Introduction[vii]
PEARS—
History of the Pear[1]
Situation and Soil[3]
Protection[5]
Planting[5]
Staking and Wiring[7]
Stocks for Pears[8]
Orchard Trees[10]
Pyramids[12]
Columnar Trees[14]
Espaliers[15]
Horizontals on Walls[15]
Fan-shaped Trees[16]
Bushes[16]
Cordons[20]
Arches[21]
Prices of Trees[22]
Garden Orchards[22]
Manures[23]
Pears for a Private Garden[24]
Exhibition Pears[24]
Cooking Pears for Exhibition[26]
Pears for Appearance[27]
Pears for Quality[27]
Cooking Pears[28]
Early Pears[28]
Late Pears[29]
Pears for Cottagers and Small Farmers[29]
Synonyms[30]
Pears for Perry[32]
Gathering and Storing[32]
Protection of Fruit[33]
Winter and Spring Washes[34]
Insect Enemies[37]
Thinning Fruit[43]
Summer, Winter, Branch and Root Pruning; Lifting[43]
Marketing and Packing[44]
Pears in an Unheated Orchard House[46]
Old Standards[51]
Irrigation[51]
Labels[51]
American Pears[51]
Notes on Varieties[52]
Receipts[55]
PLUMS—
What is the Finest Fruit?[58]
Origin of the Plum[58]
Soil and Situation[59]
Propagation and Stocks[61]
Planting[62]
What is Your Object?[62]
Plums for a Private Garden[63]
Pruning and Training[66]
Manures[68]
Thinning[69]
Gages[69]
Market Plums[70]
Gathering, Packing, Marketing[72]
Storing and Keeping[74]
Insect Enemies[75]
Orchard House[77]
Damsons[78]
Bullaces[78]
Important Points[78]
Drying by Evaporation[78]
Bottling[79]
Plum Jelly[82]
CHERRIES—
"Keeping" Fruit, Suitable Soil, Aspect, Sorts Recommended by R.H.S. and Mr Bunyard for Eating, Cooking and Market, Protection, Pruning, Training, Cherries on Walls, Insect Attacks, Distances, Manures, Marketing, Derivation of the Word[83-88]
THE MULBERRY—
Origin of the Word, Soil, Situation, Aspect, Shape, Culture, Pruning, Trees in Pots, Use of Fruit[89-91]
APPENDIX—
The Propagation of the Pear[92]