JUNE MEETING, 1877. 93 



With inc Beurre d'Aiijou luis been almost entirely free from blight, and is 

 trnly a noble pear both in tree and fruit. 



Bartlett, which stands next on the list, should be first for a profitable market 

 sort were it not for its blighting tendencies. 



Perhaps I can do no better for tlic Jiloodgood than to quote as follows fr(jm 

 Downing: "It is the highest llavored of all early pears, and deservos a place 

 even in the smallest garden. The tree grows moderately fast and bears early 

 and regularly; fruit medium and llesli buttery and melting, with a rich, 

 sugary, highly aromatic ilavor." All of which I can heartily endorse, and 

 further add that is a profitable market sort. When the committee on orchards 

 visited my place six years ago I was told the Bloodgood was properly an amateur 

 pear, on the strength of wiiich I top-grafted several of the trees with the Bart- 

 lett. Before the grafts came into bearing I found my mistake, and so left the 

 limbs to grow which I had designed to cut away. The grafts have since all 

 blighted, wliilo tlic original trees have remained healthy. Marketed in Detroit, 

 the pears have seldom sold under $2 per box, or $G per bushel. I only regret 

 I did not set more of them. 



The Beurre Gris d'Hiver Noiiveau is a splendid pear every way, and with the 

 Lawrence about fills the bill for winter pears. The only trouble is, neither is a 

 late keeper; but for market I think it just as well, as they sell for as good a 

 price at their time of ripening as at a later season. 



I shall say nothing for the Duchess, except that with me it is a profitable pear 

 to grow for market. 



There are two, perhaps three other pears, which I should like to speak a good 

 ■word for. They are the Dix, Howell, and Clapp's Favorite. I have ten trees 

 of the Dix, sot out eight years ago, and they have fruited three years past. The 

 trees are entirely free from blight, and the fruit good every way. Howell is 

 splendid in both tree and fruit, and if the trees prove as healthy as their habits 

 indicate, I would cut off the last named pear on the list and put Howell in 

 its place. 



I need not sing any praises in favor of the fruit of Clapp's Favorite, as it 

 lias received more in that direction 1 believe than any pear now grown. My 

 own trees have been planted only four years, so that I cannot speak positively 

 of their healthiness, but think from their habits, they will prove quite liable to 

 the blight. 



The next question for discussion was : 



HOW CAN WE MAKE THE BEST USE OF EVERGREENS IN PROTECT- 

 ING OUR ORCHARDS? 



Mr. Garfield, — Inasmuch as our President has given a great deal of thought 

 to this matter and has already written many good things upon the subject, I 

 would, for one, enjoy hearing him open this discussion. 



Mr. Lyon. — I dislike to express my convictions upon a question of so great 

 importance without previously collecting my thoughts together, but I recollect 

 quite vividly when I came to this lake shore that there was a prevailing opinion 

 among the orchardists here that no protection was needed from the wind, that 

 the sooner the timber was removed entirely between the lake and the orchard 

 the better. The lake was looked upon with the most perfect trust as a mother 



