156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS . 



select all early bearing kinds of fruits to the exclusion of those more tardy and more 

 hardy, is liable to carry us too far. Let us try the Dix, and although we illustrate the 

 old maxim of planting for our heirs when we plant pears , we shall be sustained by 

 the hope that our heirs will be gratified by their inheritance. 



Beurre Langelier.— Fair skinned, handsome, green; a promising pear m the West. 



Epine Dumas. — A very fair and beautilul pear; as good inside as out. 



Columbia. — A large, noble pear, possessing some important advantages as a market 

 fruit. 



Duchesse d'Angouleme. — The specimens shown are not large, and only fair in 

 quality. This pear demands thinning and high culture, when it is truly great and as 

 good as great. 



Beurre Clairgeau. — A pear that looks better than it tastes. 



In addition to these, we would merely mention the following varieties in this collec- 

 tion, but lack of time forbids any extended notice : 



Josephine de Malines, Jaminette, Figue d'Alencon, Bezi Sanspareil, Fortunee, 

 Chaptal, Prince's St. Germain, Lagaret, Belle de Moire, Beurre Duhaume, Cadette 

 de Vaux, Doyenne SieuUe, Doyenne d'Cercle, Doyenne Goubault. 



Your Committee found fair specimens of Winter Nelis and Lawrence from H. J. 

 Hyde, of Alton; Vicar of Winkfleld and Doyenne d'Alencon from Mr. Earle; of 

 Josephine de Malines, Beurre Langelier, both especially fine; also, Sheldon, past 

 season, from D. F. Kinney. We also found two or three collections for name from 

 unknown parties. 



Several varieties of California pears were on exhibition through the kindness of 

 I. S. Piatt, Esq., of Chicago. These pears have peculiar interest at this time. 

 Among them the Pound is most conspicuous, but don't seem to be superior in size 

 to what we often see in the old States . 



The Beurre Easters are very fine in smoothness of skin and in size, some specimens 

 being larger than your Committee have before seen, but they do not prove of high 

 flavor, though buttery and good; and they have a textm-e of flesh much coarser than 

 with us. 



The Chaumontel is well calculated to delude a pear hungry public by its beautiful 

 cheek of crimson and gold ; it eats about as well as a poor turnip softened bj' decay. 



The Flemish Bonchretien has the appearance of a Duchess d' Angouleme, and the 

 quaUty of a pumpkin. 



The Winter Nelis, among all California pears we have tasted, seems to have no delu- 

 sion about it; it don't look well, and it does taste well. On the whole, we think that 

 California pears possess admirable qualities for — exhibition. 



The Committee found interesting specimens of preserved gooseberries grown by 

 Henry Barker, of this city, embracing the Whitesmith, a seedling from the same, and 

 the English Green. 



We also notice specimens of the Chinese Quince of immense size, grown in 

 Louisiana, and exhibited by V. Gerber, Esq. , of St. Louis. 



