14 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



his Le Theatre d' Agriculture in 1608, a book ever to be notable in agricul- 

 ture as the first to break wholly away from the 1600 years of repetition of 

 book after book in the languages of Europe which but copied the ancients. 

 De Serres was a good farmer — most of his farming operations have not 

 been improved upon; he founded the first experimental farm of which 

 there is record at his home near Pradel and so became the first of a long 

 line of modern experimenters in agriciilture. Lastly, De Serres was a 

 charming writer and his book rapidly ran through many editions and was 

 translated into several languages. To him must be given credit for first 

 sotmding the alluring call of " back to the land " which rings from nearly 

 every page of his books. Here is his appeal to plant pears; and words 

 could hardly make it simpler, more charming, and more compelling: 



" There is no tree among all those planted which abounds so much 

 in kinds of fruits as the pear tree, whose different sorts are innumerable 

 and their different qualities wonderful. For from the month of May to 

 that of December pears good to eat are found on the trees. In considering 

 particularly the different shapes, sizes, colors, flavors, and odors of the 

 pear, who will not adore the wisdom of the creator.. Pears are found 

 rotmd, long ' goderonnees ' ^ pointed, blunt, small, and large. Gold, silver, 

 Vermillion, and satin green are fovmd among the pears. Sugar, honey, 

 cinnamon, clove, flavor them. They smell of musk, amber, and chive. 

 In short, so excellent are the fruits that an orchard woidd not be worth 

 while in a place where pear trees do not thrive." 



This laudation of the pear, in which it is made manifest that many 

 pears of diverse shapes, colors, flavors, and perfvmies existed in the year 

 1600, is all that space permits from De Serres, though much could be quoted 

 as to the care of pear orchards, and a list of kinds could be given, of which, 

 however, the descriptions count for but little. Le Lectier, to whom we 

 now come, is a better authority on varieties. 



Le Lectier, an attorney of the king at Orleans, was an amateur fruit 

 collector, but a collector who reflected and printed his reflections. He 

 seems to have been about the first of the many collectors who, with fruit- 

 growing as an avocation, have zealously sought to improve and distribute 

 varieties, and thereby have done as much or more for pomology than those 

 who have made fruit-growing a vocation. Though Le Lectier collected 

 all of the fruits of his time and country, the pear was mistress of his passion, 

 a passion which gave him such pleasure that it excited others to become 

 amateurs and emulate him. The result was that a country-wide taste for 



' Goderonne: From godron, a sculptiiral ornament having the shape of an elongated egg. 



