STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 43* 



We shall christen our subject, "The Lincoln Pear," and by our 

 former statement, you will see that the parent tree is fifty-four 

 years old. It has always been free from that great enemy to our 

 most promising pear trees — blight. It is one of the most beauti- 

 ful and symmetrical growers, can always be distinguished by its 

 uniform heading, and as to its bearing qualities, we claim for it 

 that its equal has yet to be discovered. 



My father has a tree (a sucker from the parent tree) that is 

 thirty-six years old, to which we have living witnesses that it has 

 borne fruit for thirty consecutive years, and in 1888 we are satis- 

 fied that this tree bore the enormous amount of fifty bushels, 

 and the fruit was sought after by every person who had ever 

 been familiar with it. 



For quality, it has no superior, and hardly an equal — very rich 

 and juicy. We also claim more essential points for this pear 

 than can be accorded any other pear of to-day. We claim for it, 

 extreme hardiness, that is a prolific bearer, free from blight, 

 and in size and quality second to none. 



Now, Mr. President, you may say that I am trying to boom the 

 Lincoln Pear, but I am of the opinion that praise beyond true 

 merit, dwarfs, if not kills, any subject, and I shall only add, that 

 for the last thirty years the history of our country is not com- 

 plete without the name of the lamented Lincoln, growing to 

 manhood in almost obscurity, yet by an all-wise Creator, was, 

 for his many noble qualities, brought forth to be not only the 

 wonder, but a guiding star of this, the nineteenth century; and, 

 just so, in time, will this remarkable seedling pear, for its many 

 excellent qualities, win for itself admiration from all who may 

 become acquainted with it. 



ANTIQUITIES IN GRAIN AND FRUIT. 



BY MISS EDITH GATES, HAMILTON. 



In preparing the following essay I have been, to a considerable 

 extent, a gleaner. Gathering information partly from works 

 now out of print and some from books of more modern date. 



It is hard to tell how long the art of rearing and developing 

 plants has been practiced, but it has been for many years; still 

 the origin or native place of many is unknown ; for instance, 

 grain has been so long in cultivation and has changed so under 

 different circumstances, that it is difficult to trace it back far, but 

 it is generally accepted that it was brought from India. 



Maize, or Indian corn, was found in America when discovered. 

 It is now cultivated in the south and east of Europe, but it is 

 there known as Turkey corn, from it being supposed to have 

 been introduced by the Mohammedans after their conquest of 



