Pear. Pear(Pyrus communis L.) is grown mainly in the hills at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 metres. Its cultivation is rather restricted, mainly because the fruit does not store well.

VARIETIES.   The following varieties are recommended : 'William Bon Christien' (Bartlett), 'Clapp'soil Favourits', 'Thimpsons', 'Doyenne du Comice', 'Easter Beurre', 'Winter Nalis', 'Conference', 'Dr, Jules Guyot', 'Marie Louise d'Uccle', Baggugosha (Citron des carmes) and Emile d'Heyst. Baggugosha can also be grown in the submontane tracts, but there its quality is poor. Nashpati is another variety that is grown successfully in the plains.

One-year-old grafts are planted in autumn. Those propagated on the quince stock are planted one to one-and-a-half metres apart, if they are trained as cordons. Those trained as pyramids are planted 3.5 to 4.5 m apart.

PRUNING AND TRAINING.   Pears on the pear stock make vigorous growth and develop into large trees. They remain dwarf on the quince stock when they are trained into different forms. For the pyramid form, cut the graft while planting at about three-fourths of a metre above the ground. Next winter, prune the leader to about 25 cm and the laterals to about 20 cm to the outward-pointing buds. In the second summer, all the branch leaders and laterals should be pruned to five or six leaves from the clusters, allowing the central leader to grow unchecked. In the third winter, the central leader is cut back to about one-third its length, but the branch leaders and laterals are not pruned. In the third summer, the branch leaders and the laterals, except the central leader, are again cut back to five or six leaves as in the previous summer. In the fourth winter, the central leader is again cut back to one-third its length. By following this procedure, a pear-tree on the quince stock would start flowering in fourth year. The bearing pear-trees are pruned as in the case of apples.

FRUIT-THINNING.   As a rule, less thinning is required in the case of pears than in the case of apples. One fruit per cluster in the case of prolific varieties and one to two fruits per cluster in others may be retained after thinning.

MANURING.   The method of manuring and the time of its application are the same as for apples. The amount of nitrogen to be applied should, however, be a little more than in the case of apples.

HARVESTING AND MARKETING.   'Bartlett' is picked when still green and hard. The early varieties are packed without storing, whereas the late varieties require storing to develop full flavour. The fruit should be size-graded before storing.

Persimmon. Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) is grown in the Kulu Valley at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,500 kilometres. The promising varieties are 'Fuy', 'Hachiya' and 'Hyakume'. Several good varieties, such as 'Dai Dai', 'Maru' and 'Tenanshi', are also being grown successfully at the Pomological Station, Conoor in the Nilgiris in southern India. The tree is propagated by grafting (whip and tongue method) on seedlings of Diospyros lotus and D. virginiana. The grafts are planted in winter, 6.5 to 7.5 m apart.

The trees are headed back one or two metres above the ground at the planting time. Four to five shoots are allowed to grow round the stem to avoid narrow crotches and to develop a well-balanced head. There is no further pruning after this. Dead, broken and interfering branches are removed every year.

The fruit is picked when it has attained a yellowish or reddish colour, characteristic of the variety, when still hard. It is clipped from the tree, keeping intact the calyx and a short piece of the stem. It is wrapped up in tissue-paper and packed in a two-layer box for transport. With astringent varieties, the fruit has to be cured before it is fit for eating out of hand. The simplest method is to place the fruits in a closed chamber with other ripening fruits such as pears and tomatoes.

Plum. Plum (Prunus domestica (L.) Stokes) is grown mainly in the Himalayas where the following varieties have been successfully grown : 'Grand Duke', 'Early Transparent Gage', 'Victoria', 'Santa Rosa', 'Wickson', 'Beauty' and 'Kelsey'. In the south, in the Nigiris and Kodaikanal in the Tamil Nadu stae, several choice varieties of the Japenese plum (P. salicina) are grown. The more important of these are 'Rubio', 'Alu Bokhara', 'Gaviota', 'Shiro', 'Combination' and 'Hale'. All varieties except 'Beauty', 'Santa Rosa', 'Gaviota', 'Rubio', 'Alu Bokhara' and 'Hale' which are self-fruitful, requires cross-pollination from other varieties. Plums are usually propagated by shield-budding on wild apricot or common peach stock. Planting, spacing, cultivation and fertilization are the same as for peach.

PRUNING.   Cut back the top to about 60 cm at planting time. Select three to five scaffold branches situated spirally round the stem, equidistant from one another, and remove the unwanted ones. At the time of first winter pruning, the main branches are headed back. All growth, except the main and secondary branches, is removed during the year. At the second winter pruning, crossing and other undesirable branches are removed. In the case of varieties having a tendency for upward growth, heading should be done to outward-pointing buds to make them more spreading. Subsequent pruning is carried out every year on similar lines. The pruning should be light as far as possible. The bearing trees are pruned to secure a balance between vegetative growth and fruiting.

THINNING.   Thinning should be carried out after the natural fruti-drop in April and May but before the hardening of the pits.

HARVESTING AND MARKETING.   For transporting, the fruits are picked a few days in advance of full maturity. The change of colour for each variety determines its stage of maturity. The fruits are required to be harvested in three or four pickings.

Strawberry. The cultivated varieties of strawberry (Fragaria spp. grown in India are all imported. The following are recommended : 'Laxton's Latest', 'Royal Sovereign', 'Early Cambridge', 'Huxley Giant', 'Penomenol' and 'Robinson'.

PROPAGATION AND PLANTING.   Maiden palnts (runners) that have not borne any crop are used for planting. The planting-distance is half a metre between plants and three-fourths to one metre between rows. Runners with a good root-system are used to set a new palntation. Transplanting is done in March-April in the hills and in January-February in the plains.

CULTURE.   Prepare the land by ploughing deep, followed by harrowing. Add bulky organic manures. Keep down weeds by light hoeing and runners, as and when they form. Manuring is done in winter. When plants blossom in spring, bed the plantation with straw to keep fruits off the soil. After fruiting, remove the straw and weeds, and cut off all runners. Continue hoeing. Rotate strawberry with vegetables every three years.