88 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



a stunted and sickly state, so that, when a dozen years old, 

 it is next .to worthless ; whereas the standard, being, as I 

 may say, a natural tree, grows wood for future use, which is 

 necessary before it ought to bear fruit for profit. We must 

 not think that they are backward in bearing either, for we 

 find our best varieties, six years from planting (soon enough), 

 well spurred for fruiting, with sufficient dimensions to bear 

 two bushels of pears; and with me such varieties as the Bart- 

 jett. Belle Lucrative, and Beurre Clairgeau, have produced 

 abundantly the fourth year from planting. But I would 

 rather my trees grow wood than fruit until they obtain suffi- 

 cient size to hold up the fruit. 



Li picking and ripening pears, a good rule to follow is to 

 pick, when, on gently lifting the fruit, the stem will separate 

 from the limb : the best place to keep them, is a dark, cool, 

 dry room, with a good circulation of air. I pick Bartletts, 

 Sept. 1, they were ripe the 15th ; Beurre Clairgeau, Oct. 1, 

 ripe Nov. 10 ; Beurre Bosc, Oct. 1, ripe the 20th ; Duchesse 

 d'Angouleme, Oct. 10, ripe Nov. 10 ; Louise Bonne de Jer- 

 sey, Sept. 20, ripe Oct. 5 ; Sheldon, Sept. 25, ripe Oct. 15 ; 

 Seckel, Sept. 25, ripe Oct. 10 ; Lawrence, Oct. 10, ripe from 

 Dec. 1 to Jan. 1 ; Beurre d'Anjou, Oct. 10, ripe Dec. 1 ; 

 Vicar of Winkfield, Oct. 10, or as long as you can safely 

 leave them to grow ; they will keep in a good dry cellar till 

 March, and are fit to eat from December to that time. Treat 

 Winter Nelis the same as the Vicar. Another good pear, 

 that I raise myself, I must not pass over ; that is the Belle 

 Lucrative. It is very productive ; but, though a good pear, it 

 is not very salable in the market. You must bear in mind 

 that the seasons and circumstances have a great deal to do 

 with keeping fruit. 



For the ten varieties for profit, I give jou a list of the 

 best varieties and most profitable in the whole catalogue of 

 the pear family. There are other varieties worth raising, but 

 without much profit. 



Bartlett. Bears early and abundantly ; a great favorite ; 

 always sells. Sold this year at from two dollars to two dol- 

 lars and a half per bushel. 



Seckel. The highest flavored pear known; productive, 

 and brings good price. Sold at from two dollars to two dol- 

 lars and a half per bushel. 



