220 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



trees are in blossom, but after they have blossomed and the fruit 

 has set. The frost comes and nips the fruit, and it drops off. 



Now, the experiment can be easily tried, and at a trifling 

 expense. After the ground is frozen hard, cover up a large 

 circle around the tree, and keep the frost there as long as you 

 can. Then let the tree come into blossom, and see if you do 

 not have fruit. 



Dr. Durfee. I think I will say one word about the cultivation 

 of pears. My friend Dr. Loring has referred to dwarf pears. 

 I want to say, that I have purchased a great many pear-trees. 

 I have more than five hundred now, and I don't think I have 

 one that was grafted on the quince that can stand alone. I have 

 therefore come to the conclusion that our soil, at least, is no 

 place to put pears grafted on the quince. There is no root to 

 it. I say to any one who desires to set out pear-trees, be sure 

 to set out standards. Then I want to say again, be sure and 

 know what you get when you set them out. 



Dr. Loring. That is the hardest thing to do. 



Dr. Durfee. A few years ago, when riding on the Western 

 road, with a company of agriculturists, I remarked to one sitting 

 near me, " I want to get about a hundred of the best kinds of 

 pears." Said he, " I can tell you where you can get something 

 that you can depend on." I said, "I shall be happy to know; 

 where is it ? " The reply was, *' Go to such a nursery-man, and 

 tell him you want a hundred pear-trees of the best quality, and 

 you will be sure to get them ; I know you will." So I took 

 the trouble to send my order to that party ; he was a par- 

 ticular friend of mine ; I had been very intimate with him, and 

 I thought I should get a good lot of trees. The trees came to 

 my place ; they are now in bearing, and if I told the truth, 

 I think I should have to say that there are not more than four 

 varieties out of that hundred that are worth raising. What is 

 the result ? I have got to graft the whole of them ; there is no 

 other alternative ; that is, all that have any roots, and can stand 

 alone ; some of them, we have had to stake up. I repeat, there- 

 fore, if any of you are disposed to set out pear-trees, be sure 

 you get standards ; and be sure you know what you get, — if 

 you can. That is the great difficulty. 



Now, as to the profit of pear-trees, I will state one instance, 

 within the limits of this town. I have tried to encourage peo- 



