[In a recent spirited discussion had in tlie Cincinnati Horticultural 

 Society, on the value and economics of Dwarf Pear Culture, numer- 

 ous papers were read, pro and con ; some of which we have thought 

 might not be unprofitable or uninteresting to our readers. Accord- 

 ingly, we have selected for this number, the leader^ which from its 

 bold position may be said to have waked up a most spirited debate, 

 in which a goodly number of the members took active part, ranging 

 themselves according to their respective views. — Ed. Cin.] 



DWARF PEAR CULTURE. 



BY WILLIAM STOMS. 



In accordance with a motion made by myself, on the 4th Oct., the 

 Cincinnati Horticultural Society has set apart this day for the discus- 

 sion of Dwarf Pears. 



My own assumption is, that the Pear grafted on the Quince stock, 

 is unprofitable for general cultivation ; ill adapted, and a humbug. 

 Before entering upon the merits of the case in cjuestion, I wish 

 simply to notice a fact, which has been observable, already, upon 

 this, as on other occasions, i. e. — a squemnishness among some of the 

 older members of the Society, whenever an important matter was 

 proposed for discussion. Old fogyism, and chilly conservatism, are 

 all well enough in their place ; and their place is among the fossils 

 of a long past and gone generation. They belong not, certainly, to 

 the present, when Young America is already booted and spurred, 

 and taking the short-cut for the goal of his ambition. Some have 

 gone so far as to predict the downfall of this Society, unless agitation 

 should cease upon important topics. Some of those same prophets 

 are now in this hall, whose trembling nerves gave token that the 

 Strawberry question was to be the rock upon which the Cincinnati 

 Horticultural Society was to make complete shipwreck. 



These extreme fears have of course proved a delusion ; for never, 

 since its first organization, has the Society been in such a prosper- 

 ous condition as now. Its numbers have increased, and are still in- 

 creasing, quite as fast as the most progressive could reasonably 

 expect. As for the character of its membership, I presume it 

 will compare with any other organization of its kind in the United 



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