NEW AMERICAN PEAKS. 



although by some called the same ; it is a much more thrifty grower, with much darker 

 wood than the HosenschenTc. Having seen a very flattering description of this pear by Dr. 

 Beinokle, of Philadelphia, and having had several communications in relation to the same 

 from two of our Pennsylvania friends, I brought the character of the pear before our firm, 

 and we decided last season to propagate it largely. We now have a very fine stock. The 

 fruit you saw was sent us from the bearing tree in Pennsylvania, from which our grafts and 

 buds came, and we esteem it not only by far the largest pear of its season, but the test. It is 

 as good as the best Onondaga we have ever tasted, and, in our opinion, fully equal to the 

 Virgalieu, of which it is supposed to be a seedling. Size large, very juicy, melting, and 

 refreshing, and will be a decided favorite, as soon as made known to the community. IIow 

 so large and fine a pear, ripening in August, could be confined to so limited an area, we are 

 unable to account for. The original tree is from forty-five to fifty years old, on the farm 

 of Mr. John Schenk, of Weaver township, Penn., who raised Ihree trees from seeds found in 

 one pit, all of which came into bearing : one proving worthless, one of second rate fruit, 

 and the other, the fruit we sent you, called IIosenschenTc Pear^ which is still thrifty, bearing 

 annually large crops, and still growing near the smokehouse, from which it was long known 

 as the Smolcehouse Pear. Mr. Schenk is represented as a man of singular character, much 

 devoted to raising new trees and plants, and neglected his forming operations in order to 

 attend to the ' smelling of water.' He went far and near for those who desired his services, 

 and was generally very successful in finding under-streams. He wore wide 'trowsers,' and 

 used to say that during his lifetime these same wide-legged pantaloons had been three 

 times in fashion. Hence the name '^oseTi'-schenk, meaning ' 5?'eec7i(?«'-schenk. We are 

 indebted to our friend Mr. J. B. Gaeber for the above history. 



We have sent to Messrs. Hovet & Co., Hon. M. P. Wildee, LuTnER Tucker, Esq., Dr. 

 Wendell, and the Cincinnati Horticultural Society two specimens each of the same lot of 

 pears sent you, and at the same time. These pears were picked green and hard, and packed 

 in buckwheat chafi", and forwarded by express from Pennsylvania to us. AVhen they 

 arrived, unfortunately, the chaff imparted to them quite a musty taste, and they were 

 by no means a true test. Our friend also apologies for the size being small, as the tree had 

 a very heavy crop on it. I give you short extracts below from some of those to whom we 

 have sent specimens ; and as we have characterized it not only the largest but best pear 

 ripening in the month of August, and nearly equal to our best in flavor, you can at once 

 judge how oi;r views compare with theirs. 



" We make the following extract from a letter from Messrs. Hovet & Co., of Boston : 'Dr. 

 Beinckle had given us some information about the HosenscJienlc^ and we supposed it might 

 be a good pear, but we are happy now to have good evidence that it is decidedly an acquisi- 

 tion to our early kinds. Those you have sent, undoubtedly, are not fair samples, but they 

 show it has a very melting andjuicyi flesh, and only lacking more flavor to give it a rank 

 among the best pears Ave possess. We have made a cut of it, and shall be pleased to learn 

 its fuU history, &c.' 



" The following is an extract from the letter of Hon. M. P. Wilder : ' I received with 

 pleasure the specimens of the ITosenschenJc Pear. I have heard something of this fruit, but 

 was not aware of its being so early^ or so handsome and large. The flesh is very tender-, 

 juicy .^ an([ melting ; the flavor mild and pleasant; and were it a little higher and more 

 specific, this variety would, without detriment, compare with our favorite Bartlett. Prom 

 the specimens sent, I should judge that it would be a valuable early market pear. Please 

 send me five of the best trees you can spare.' 



