NOTES ON PEARS. 



every year. My own trees, both at my residence, and on my farm, still flourish, and have 

 borne considerable fruit; but I tremble for their fate, equally on the stocks of the pear, 

 and on the quince. 



I would give a trifle to know if the old French Pear trees on the Detroit river, were ever 

 struck with the blight. But they never seem to know anything in that region about their 

 pear trees — or if they do, they don't tell of it — and we are not likely to be much enlight- 

 ened from that quarter. The soil where they stand is much the same as that of the Ni- 

 agara, I described to you in the Horticulturist a year ago. 



This is a momentous question, as the politicians say; for could the pear trees now stand- 

 ing in plantations in this state alone, grow unmolested by the blight for twenty or thirty 

 years to come, millions of dollars would be added to our wealth, and the hearts of their 

 owners made glad with their abundant harvests. Why will not our pear growers relate 

 their experience in the columns of the Horticulturist? The intelligence thus gathered 

 would at least be interesting, if not consolatory, to those who feel concerned in it. 



Pear Gossip. 



Although in the lachrymose vein, on a favorite subject, still I wish to add the mite of 

 experience I have had in the quality of the difierent varieties of pears which I have culti- 

 vated. The soil ou which they grew is, as I have before observed, a heavy clay-loam, 

 highly charged with lime, and resting on lime stone, fifteen or twenty feet below. 



Bloodgood. — A capital pear, of the first quality. The tree grows well; bears abundant- 

 ly; the fruit of small medium size; yellow russet, in color; juicy and high flavored. My 

 earliest pear, so far. 



French Jargonelle. — Nearly as early as the last. The tree a rampart, vigorous grower. 

 The fruit is beautiful to the eye, but worthless to the taste — not worth growing. It has 

 borne with me several j'ears. 



Bartlett. — Perfect in all the qualities that has ever been attributed to it. It follows 

 close upon the Bloodgood in ripening, and is perhaps the most profitable pear of the sea- 

 sun, when one has a near and ready market. The Bartlett is a vigorous grower, and a 

 great bearer; and may, by proper care, be kept in eating two to three weeks, — but if over 

 kept, is worthless. 



Louise Bonne de Jersey. — A first quality pear in all respects. The tree is a vigorous, 

 upright grower, and a great bearer. The fruit is beautiful to the eye; large, juicy, rich, 

 and melting. One can scarcely grow too many of them. 



White Doyenne, or flrgalieu. — This world-renowned pear it is not necessary here to 

 discuss. It grows all over western New-York, where the blight does not kill it, in its 

 fullest perfection, with an occasional exception of spotting and cracking. It cannot be too 

 widely cultivated, where its fruit grows perfect. 



Marie Louise. — This pear has stood in my grounds a dozen years, and in only two 

 years of the seven or eight of its bearing — the first year and the last — has the fruit been 

 really good. Last season it was almost equal to the Virgalieu; large, melting, sweet, 

 and delicious. It is a careless, slovenly grower; writhing and twisting its branches in all 

 sorts of ways. Yet it is a good bearer. Were I to plant again, it should not be in my 

 collection. 



Brown Beurrc. — I have before spoken of this fine old fruit. It is somewhat variable, 

 owing to position, and cultivation; but with a warm, rich, heavy soil, and good care, it is 

 almost always good; and when good, so very delicious to the taste, in its melting, vinous 

 flavor, that an occasional delinquency may be excused. Yet the largest and finest 

 Beurres I have ever seen, grew on trees in my neighborhood, which stand on & very 



