228 BOARD OF AGRICULTURK 



fruit, or feeble growth or scanty bearing in the tree, they would 

 prove unprofitable for market. 



For various reasons it is more difficult to arrive at a conclusive 

 decision regarding the value of a new pear, than with an untried 

 apple. The pear is not so uniform in quality during a series of 

 years in the same soil and location ; one year it may give promise 

 of high excellence, a,nd the next prove quite poor. In one soil 

 and location it may be all which can be asked, and in a less favor- 

 able one quite inferior. The first few years of bearing do not 

 usually develope its full excellence, — for this we must wait until 

 the tree has attained a good degree of maturity. In the apple the 

 effect of an over-abundant crop is chiefly manifested in the require- 

 ment for a season of rest, while in the pear a too heavy crop is 

 often connected with small, inferior fruit, so nearly worthless that 

 a few dozen large perfect specimens will give greater satisfaction 

 and will command more money than bushels of the same sort im- 

 perfectly grown ; and hence the necessity and profit in many cases 

 of severe thinning out of the fruit. 



Unless the proper conditions are fulfilled, pear culture may be 

 expected to result in failure ; when they are fulfilled, a high 

 degree of satisfaction and of profit may be confidently anticipated. 

 Like everything else which is really desirable and valuable, pears 

 cost something, and they readily command a price fully commen- 

 surate with the cost ; usually a good deal more from their scarcity. 

 Mr. Nickerson of Readfield, told me that the first time he ofiercd 

 for sale in Portland the fruit of his seedling pear a proposal was 

 made him at once to take all he would furnish at $12.50 per barrel, 

 and he sold his crop at that price. Mr. N. thinks they can be 

 grown as easily as apples, and has several hundreds of trees under 

 way. 



Good pears,- in our best markets, readily command from five to 

 ten times as much as good apples, and will undoubtedly continue 

 to do so for years to come. 



The more opportunity has been enjoyed to compare the pros- 

 pects of pear culture in Maine and in other sections, the more 

 favorable do ours appear. There are obstacles in both cases, but 

 they are very unlike. In the Middle and Western States they can 

 grow young trees with great facility — whether they be of sorts 

 which we call tender or hardy, and they suffer few losses from win- 

 ter killing, or from crushing snows breaking them down ; but 



