STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 155 



own State in the exhibition , they have been much pleased and interested with those 

 sent us by our neighbors. 



Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry liave, with usual and commendablo enterprise and 

 liberality, shown us forty varieties, nearly all of which are in a good condition of 

 preservation, and many of which are firm enougli to keep through the winter. The 

 first pear examined was the new and much talked of late keeping winter pear, the 

 Duchesse de Bordeaux. Your Conunittee believe that the fruit of this variety has 

 never been before seen in the West. It is a fair sized, good looking, though rather 

 rough pera, of a marked high flavor, vinous and refreshing. It is said to keep as long 

 as the Easter, and while it is not as rich and buttery as that variety, it possesses more 

 of that aromatic and lively acid, which will commend it to many buyers. 



The Beurre d'Anjou is exceedingly fine, and their firmness at this time indicate 

 good keeping qualities. Your Committee would particularly commend this variety 

 to planters as very reliable in all respects. 



Beurre d'Aremberg — Specimens good size, rougii, and flavor a little rough but 

 vinous and aromatic. 



Doyenne d'Alencon. — Specimens very good size — not ripe enough to eat, but your 

 Committee believe this to be one of the few excellent and reliable winter pears. 



Delices d'Hardenpont. — Good looking, but specimens shown of poor flavor. 



Beurre Gris d'Hiver, — A pear of very noble appearance; specimens too hard for test 

 of flavor. / 



Lamartine. — Specimens small and inferior looking. 



Black Worcester, — A fine looking pear — said to be good for cooking. Your Com- 

 mittee have the impression that it is not desirable to multiply varielies of cooking 

 peai's very largely; two or three of the best, like Vicar of Winkfield and Pound, being 

 better than many kinds. 



Doyenne Rose. — Apparently worthless. 



Niles. — Unattractive in appearance; specimens hard. This pear is said to have good 

 points . 



Jones' Seedling. — Medium sized; fruits of fine color and form. 



Souvenir d'Esperen. — Samples of very coarse quality. 



Winter Nelis. — Specimens of moderate size and quality; one of our best pears for 

 the North, but wont do in many localities South. 



Vicar of Winkfield. — Specimens were quite good. Y'our Committee believe that 

 planters will do well to become acquainted with the merits of tliis pear before planting. 



Beurre Diel. — Specimens small, but of very good flavor; a very unreliable pear. 



Lawrence. — Specimens of good size, although not equal to those grown in Southern 

 Illinois, and the flavor not equal to ours. A pear of undisputed excellence, which 

 improves in size and quality as it goes South. 



Oswego Beurre. — Not very attractive in appearance 



Compte de Flandre. — Of coarse texture but high flavor; worthy of attention, 



AVillirmoz. — Large, green, handsome. 



Leon le Clerc de Laval, Large, showy pear; handsome; not ripe enough to eat, 



Dix, — Specimens of good size. If we were to judge from external appearance, we 

 should be slow to learn the delightful qualities of this pear, as the specimens before us 

 are of rather unattractive exterior, but we judged the Dix as the best pear on the 

 table, in point of flavor. Your Committee would here suggest that the temptation to 



