SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 347 



prudent that not more than one-half of the thinning should be 

 clone at once, and those remaining should be undisturbed until 

 we ascertain the imperfect fruit to be removed. 



GATHERING. 



It is found by experience that there are but few of the finer 

 varieties that are not improved by gathering before they are 

 fully ripe. It has been found that not a few have been dis- 

 carded as unworthy of cultivation, which, by early picking, 

 improve so as to rank among the first in excellence. It is well 

 known that several varieties rot at the core when left upon the 

 tree until fully ripe which will keep well for weeks when picked 

 earlier. Among these are the Flemish Beauty, Beurre Diel, and 

 frequently, by watching, the Louise Bonne de Jersey. It still 

 holds as a maxim that pears are fit for picking when the cleav- 

 ing of the stem from the spur, without breaking, when gently 

 raised. Some varieties should not be left so long even as this. 

 The fruit should not be picked on a wet or cloudy day, or in 

 early morning, when the dew is upon the leaves and fruit, as its 

 flavor is much impaired by the moisture, and its keeping 

 properties much injured. If it is necessary to gather it under 

 such circumstances, it should be exposed to the light and air 

 until it is thoroughly dry. Pears picked in the middle of a 

 sunny day are greatly superior in flavor, and keep better. Early 

 gathering is only necessary for summer and autumn varieties. 

 On the other hand, the late-keeping and winter kinds should be 

 picked as late in the season as the frost will allow. 



MARKETING PEARS. 



In the marketing of fine fruit for indifferent prices, large 

 numbers of pear cultivators have experienced great disappoint- 

 ment. This has always been entirely due to improper gathering 

 and ripening. Market men will not buy fruit already ripe, to be 

 kept for several days, for sale to the retailers, who in turn must 

 keep it on hand for sale as long as they can for their consumers ; 

 nor will the retailers buy pears entirely green, as few of them 

 are sufficiently acquainted with the varieties, to be certain how 

 they will ripen up in color and in flavor. Some of the fruits 

 should ripen in the hands of the large dealers, that they may be 

 exhibited as samples, being put into their hands when green and 

 hard. One of the great mistakes frequently made by pear grow- 

 ers is to send the fruit to market after ripening, in such a con- 

 dition that it will not bear transportation, and often reaches its 

 destination badly jammed, if not a mass of rotteness. It is an 

 error for the grower to market his own fruit, for retailers in 

 such cases will not offer more than one-third or half of the price 

 they expect to pay when their trade demands an immediate 



