ORCHARDS. 137 



The varieties grafted are the following: eighteen Bartlett, 

 ten Lawrence, two Urbaniste, two Bcurre Superfin, two Benin' 

 d'Anjou, one Flemish Beauty, one Bem-re* Bosc, one Bem-re" 

 d'Areniburg, one Winter Nclis, one Doyenne Sieulle, and one 

 Madeline. The Bartletts commenced bearing the second year 

 after being grafted, and have borne more or less every year 

 since, although the present year the crop was very light, several 

 of the trees having been badly injured by the weather last 

 winter. The other varieties have nearly all commenced bearing. 



I am unable to state definitely the expense of reclaiming, or 

 the value of the fruit obtained from the trees, but am convinced 

 that the pears already obtained have been worth double the 

 expense incurred. In 1857, after reserving an abundant supply 

 for my family, I sold pears from these trees to the amount of 

 twenty-six dollars and seventy-nine cents. 



PLYMOUTH. 



Statement of Austin J. Roberts. 



Pear Orchards. — Some three years ago I entered my name 

 as a competitor for the society's premium on pear trees, which 

 is to be awarded thisy,ear, and I herewith submit my statement 

 in regard to the method of cultivation and management of my 

 pear gardens. 



The pear, like every thing highly desirable and valuable, 

 cannot be had without much attention, labor and skill. The 

 relative prices of the apple and pear being as one to ten, show 

 at the same time the superior value of the latter, and the 

 superior skill required to bring it to perfection. On several 

 accounts, the pear possesses superior merits over other fruits. 

 The first is, its delicious quality as found in the finest varieties, 

 its buttery or melting texture, and its delicious and perfumed 

 flavor. In this respect the pear greatly excels the apple, and 

 the winter varieties keep nearly as well. The first question 

 that occurs to every one commencing any branch of cultivation, 

 is in relation to the probability of success, ultimate profit, or, 

 to use a plain, homely, Yankee phrase, whether it will pay. 

 Now, before going into any details of how pear trees should be 

 cultivated, I will mention a few examples of successful pear 



18 



