THE ORANGE PEAR. 



the Pomological Convention, and states what was not the fact — that I introduced a "dish 

 of preserves," meaning, I presume, " preserved pears." The pears which I introduced, 

 were not "preserved," but "baked," which several of the Convention tasted, and pro- 

 nounced " good — very good." 



He also compares it to the "Morello Cherry," and sa3^s that " he can cheerfully sub- 

 scribe to most of the good qualities given to it by Mr. A." Then why damn the pear 

 with faint praise and ridicule, as he afterwards does? 



Another thing Col. Hodge ought to know — as a pomologist; and that is, that our best 

 table fruits, are seldom our best cooking and preserving fruits. The Morello Cherry is 

 one in point. Although an indifferent table fruit in the raw state, its peculiar valuable 

 qualities are developed only by cooking. Look at the books, where the acid and Morello 

 cherries are the most approved for cooking and preserving. So it is with apples, for dry- 

 ing, cooking, and cider. The heaviest musted apples, like the Harrison, Carpfield, the 

 Crabs, Red Streak, &c., are all indifferent eating apples, but the best of all for cider. So 

 for baking. The best table apples are far inferior to the Lyman's Pumpkin Sweet, a green, 

 hard, astringent fruit, not fit to eat raw, but probably the most luscious baking apple we 

 have. So with the Talman Sweeting, which, although a fair table fruit, is infinitely bet- 

 ter baked, and aside from the Pumpkin Sweeting, hardly has its equal. And why 

 should it not be so with the Orange Pear, an astringent fruit? Its quality is not develop- 

 ed without fire to bring it out, and burst its raw astringency. 3Mting pears— the best 

 eating varieties — are not good for preserving or baking. Their fine juices are dissolved in 

 the ripening process, and cooking only dissipates the juices, instead of developing them, 

 and they run off, leaving the flesh flaccid and tasteless, instead of retaining them within 

 the flesh, and perfecting them, as with the others. I have tried the melting pears for bak- 

 ing and preserving, by the side of the Orange Pear, and know their inferiority. I very 

 much doubt whether Col. Hodge has ever done as much. 



To test this matter, I will make a proposition: Col. Hodge may take any of the melt- 

 ing pears of the best table quality, like the Virgalieu, Seckel, Louise Bonne de Jersey or 

 Bartlett, and preseve them, weighing alike, his pears and white sugar — and nothing else 

 shall be used, except water; and I will take the Orange Pear, observing the like direc- 

 tions, and the preserves made from them, shall be placed without designation, on the 

 fruit tables of the State Agricultural Society, at their annual meeting next February, 

 in Albany, and submitted to the examination of a competent committee, appointed by the 

 Society; and if the melting pears then, and there, considering the quantity of sugar used, 

 shall excel the Orange, I will surrender at once; but until then, I shall maintain the integ- 

 rity of the Orange Pear, which he has so ungratefully cast off, against all the inference he 

 may bring against it. 



A word only, as to the ipse dixit of these fruit Conventions. They have done much 

 good, and I hope they will continue their proceedings. With the fruits in season before 

 them, and those with which they are all well acquainted, if not present, and in .season, 

 their opinions and decisions are valuable; but with a new fruit, of peculiar qualities, as in 

 the case of the Orange Pear, time, calm consideration, and trial is necessary to decide its 

 merits. The mere say-so of one or two partial or interested parties, should not govern, 

 and when decisions are so made, they are entitled to little weight. The Brown Beurre, 

 quoted by Col. IIodgr, is in point. I had tried the pear then only one year, and knew 

 little about it. It had not then done well with me; I wanted to condemn it — and so did 

 friend Hodge, with the rest of the " Doctors." It is an old adage, that wise men may 

 change their minds; fools never do. I hope neither of us are in the latter category 



