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.

Peas.--For the production of heavy summer and autumn crops a rich and
deeply-stirred soil is essential, one of the best fertilisers being
well-decayed farmyard manure; but for the earliest crop a poorer soil,
if deep and well pulverised, will give the best results. Peas under
3 ft. in height do not require sticking, but they can be more easily
gathered if a few small twigs are used to keep the haulm off the
ground. If sown in successive lines the space between the rows should
correspond with the height of the variety grown. A good plan is to
arrange the rows 10 or 15 ft. apart, and crop the intervening spaces
with early dwarf vegetables. The earliest varieties may be sown from
November to February, on the warmest and most sheltered border: these
may be gathered in May and June. The second early r