DWARF PEARS. 



Mr. Editor : 

 I notice in the columns of your valuable Journal, an article upon 

 the cultivation of " Dwarf Pears," by Wm. Stoms Esq., which also 

 seems to have been read before the Cincinnati Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, and in which he reviews an opinion expressed by me on a cer- 

 tain occasion, relative to the cultivation of the pear on the quince 

 stock. 



I have not the pleasure of an acquaintance with that gentleman ; 

 but from the confident manner in which he writes, it is to be pre- 

 sumed that he has had better opportunities, and much larger experi- 

 ence, than the cultivators of New England. As to the accusations 

 which he brings against me of "bloviating," " bobbin'," " veering," 

 "backing out" from the culture of '■^ Dwarf Pears," "jumping at 

 conclusions without practical experience," advocating " moonshine 

 theories," and similar denunciatory phrases, I yield to him all the 

 honor which attaches to such courteous and classic language, agree- 

 ing with him " that amenity and courtesy to opponents should al- 

 ways characterize deliberations." 



The grave charge he makes is, that I did say, in open meeting, 

 and before the world, " that the pear, upon the quviice, should be 

 planted deep enough to cover the place of junction, three or four 

 inches below the soil, and the pear will throw out roots from itself, 

 and the result will be not only early fruiting, but also, longevity." 

 Mr. Stoms further says: "When Col. Wilder shall have tried this 

 new project some twenty years, then it is that he can speak with 

 some truth and confidence as to early fruiting and longevity." — 

 Now this direct proposition is encouraging, and induces me to in- 

 form Mr. Stoms, that I have tried this " new project," not only 

 " ticenty" but more than twenty-five years ; and although I would 

 not arrogate the riper experience which he claims, yet I will ven- 

 ture to assert, that I have in my grounds many pyramid pear trees 

 from ten to seventeen feet in hight, with trunks twenty inches in 

 circumference, and branching at the base ten to twelve feet — that 

 hundreds of these trees are from twelve to fifteen years of age — that 

 several of these are thirty years old — that they have borne regular 

 crops from the third or fourth year after planting, and that in some 



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