THE PEAR IN FRANCE. 



to the formation of a good large ball of roots; and certainly, in that respect, their trees 

 leave nothing to be desired. Nothing can exceed the healthy appearance of the roots of 

 some, which late in the year I saw a man lifting in a nursery there — and in quantity they 

 did amplejustice to the cultivator. After that age they do but little except the pruning, 

 which they well understand, and which I took some pains to make myself master of I 

 bi'ought a few trees home with me, which are now bearing a small crop only, as from an 

 accident they suffered injury on the voyage, and I have had difficulty to recover them. 



In the small villuges around Havre, of wliich there are several, every working man's 

 cottage has its half dozen pear trees, and they appear to be regarded as an essential ap- 

 pendage to the domicile of a French artisan. 



In the village gardens I observed, also, that the pear trees in no way encroached upon 

 what some may regard as the more appropriate occupants of the cottagers plot — I mean 

 cabbages and potatoes. In the suburbs I saw few vegetables, but in the villages, the gar- 

 dens were well stocked with them, the pears being planted at the corners and down the sides 

 of the divisions of the ground, where, (as was the case oftentimes in the villages,) the 

 gardens attached to the cottages were of fair extent. The effect produced by the m hole was 

 })leasing to a degree I sliall not easily forget, and conveyed to the mind an idea of enjoy- 

 ment which, alas, was too often confined to the exterior of these humble abodes! For 

 the laboring classes in that fine but unhappy countrj'^, are poor and destitute of the neces- 

 saries of household comforts, to an extent which it is painful to witness. Volatile and un- 

 reflecting, however, the French husbandman appears to realise the aphorism of the poet, 



" Man wants but little here below, 

 Nor wants ihut little long."' 



and singing his " Marseillaise" as he drives his plough, where no " babbling echo" can 

 waft his " treasonable !" lay to the ears of a " prince president," or his miserable min- 

 ions, he cheerfully toils through his daily task, and returns to his naked home light heart- 

 ed, and contented with his lot. 



What I wish to impress upon j^our readers, is the beautiftil effect produced, and the air 

 of rural taste given to a neighborhood, by this universal growth of the pear tree. Until 

 seen, it is difficult to be estimated. But I will engage that if the lovers of horticulture in 

 any one city, will exert themselves, and distribute a few pear trees amongst their neigh- 

 bors, (and they are cheap enough here now,) so as to get a goodly show of them, that 

 before three years are over, if they are grown in the conical shape I have described, and 

 which is well known, there will not be an inhabitant in the vicinity that would fail to re- 

 gard them as a magnificent addition to the elegances of the place. Then, without entering 

 into more expensive or time occupying floricultural pursuits," " pear societies" may be 

 started, and every fall would bring along its pear exhibition, and with it a day of joy and 

 gaiety for all the lads and lasses around ! 



To all, I say then, plant pears. If you don't eat them yourself, give them away, or sell 

 them if you like; and moreover, if you manage them so badly that you get no fruit, 

 (you will be rather clever to prevent having more or less three years out of four,) 

 you will still have, if well trained, as fine an object as an ornamental tree — as almost any 

 deciduous trees of the size that you can find. Therefore, I say again, plant pear trees. 



An Amateuk. 



New-York, Scptenber, 1352. 



