200 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which then were not nearly as numerous as now. To-day, if 

 a person purposed planting fifteen varieties, and relied on the 

 judgment of the best cultivators of pears in making his selec- 

 tion, at least ten of them would be American varieties, all of 

 which have been originated since that time. For instance, 

 take that pear originated by Mr. Francis Dana, of Roxbury, 

 "Dana's Hovey," probably one of the highest flavored, if not 

 the highest flavored, pears in cultivation, and equal to the 

 very best early winter pear. Then take " Clapp's Favorite," 

 which is certainly a good pear, although it has the failing of 

 rotting at the core. Mr. Clapp has one or two other seed- 

 lings which have not been put out yet, which are very 

 promising. 



You see, therefore, that it is not a hopeless job to under- 

 take to raise seedling fruits, and a person who does it has the 

 satisfaction of doing something for himself, and conferring 

 some benefit in return for what he has received from other 

 cultivators, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has 

 done something to aid horticulture. 



Now, something has been said with resrard to the washins: 

 of trees for the borer. I have found, I think, that whale-oil 

 soap can be used successfnlly for the destruction of that 

 insect. It is a very simple thing ; it will not hurt the tree if 

 you put it on its full strength. You can take whale-oil soap 

 and dilute it until it is about as thick as paint, and put a 

 coating of it on the tree where the holes are, and I will bet 

 you will never see a borer on that tree until the new crop 

 comes. I feel certain of it, because I have done it. I think 

 whale-oil soap, mixed in the same way, is one of the best 

 washes ; it will not injure the bark. There is danger in the 

 use of potash. We consider one pound to a gallon of water 

 the proper proportions, but I have seen the bark of tender 

 trees injured by using potash water of that strength. 



Now, another thing which has come under my observation 

 in regard to the planting of trees. And by the way, let me 

 tell you I have been a nursery-man once, and had a large lot 

 of trees, and if any of you gentlemen propose to plant an 

 orchard of pear or apple trees, I think I can tell you one little 

 thing that will make a great difference to your orchard. If, 

 instead of buying trees of those peddlers who ccme around, 



