EDITOR'S TABLE. 



while those green ones, from the lower and interior parts of the tree, remain hard and 

 insipid. But this is pretty much the case Avith all winter pears. 



A. Can this peai- be grown on the quince stock? No sir; but you can "double- 

 work" it, as the nm-serymen say — that is, bud or graft some variety like the Virgalieu, or 

 Duchess d'Angoulem-e, on the quince, and then graft the Princess St. Germain on that. 



Here is another Long Island variety that is coming rapidly into favor. It is called the 

 Lawrence ; you have no doubt heard of it. 



A. This comes nearer my idea of a good pear than either of the others. I should call 

 this very good. 



B. So should I ; really melting and fine flavored, hke a Virgalieu in October. I 

 must change my opinion about winter pears. But do you mean to say this has ripened in 

 the cellar? 



Certainly it has ; and it is moreover a good grower and a good bearer, succeeding well 

 both on pear and quince stock, in the orchard or the garden. A gentleman on Long Island 

 has planted a large orchard of it, to grow fruit for the market. 



Now I will introduce you to a foreigner, none of your vain, swaggering pretenders, how- 

 ever, that assume great airs to captivate and astonish the natives ; but a plain citizen, under 

 whose rough brown coat you will find genuine merit, I think. The name is Winter 

 Nelis. On the other side the water, it is called Colmar Nelis., Bonne de Maline^ Beurre de 

 Malinc, &c. What do you think of it ? 



A. Excellent, sir, excellent; the best yet. Besides being buttery and juicy, it has a 

 rich vinous flavor, surpassing all we have yet tasted. 



B. A first rate example of modest merit. If we never receive anything worse than 

 this from abroad, I would say the more the letter. 



Well, here is another almost, if not quite, as good, but less talked of and less known. I 

 think by and by it must be very popular. 



A. How remarkable its form — as round as an apple; and its color is a,T clear and 

 bright a yellow as the Virgalieu in October ; and how luscious, fresh, and high flavored. 

 I think it comes quite up to the Winter Nelis. Don't you think so, Mr. B.? 



B. I do, indeed; and it far surpasses it in beauty. How is its growth and bearing? 

 A capital grower, sir, and a good bearer ; not so prolific as a Bartlett or Virgalieu. It 



grows equally well on pear or quince. The specimens you have tasted were grown upon 

 the quince stock. It is almost past its season. Through all December it has been fine, 

 eaten from the shelves in the cellar. It is called Doyenne Sieulle. You may note it as a 

 first rate December pear. 



We are not yet at the bottom of the dish, but the remainder of the gossip must be 

 defended tOl a future time. 



OuE Climate. — A fitful climate is ours, and it seems to grow more and more so every 

 year. Some ten or fifteen years ago only, we reckoned upon such and such sorts of weather 

 at certain periods of the year, especially during the fall and winter, with considerable cer- 

 tainty. We were able, in advance, to shape our course and trim our sail to suit the season 

 of the year, and we were rarely disappointed. But latterly our calculations are all at fault, 

 and we begin to feel tliat although we have studied our climate long and closely, we know 

 very little about it, or that the Uttle we do Imow afibrds us but a very uncertain guide in 

 iding for the future. 

 , the lOtli day of January, 1853, is mUd and sunny as the first day in April. The 



