NOTES ON I'KAK.S. 



oiilv hoars well occasionally, wlion the branches are literally covered with tlie fruit 

 ••<;,..>,!." Auir^^t. 



Summer Fmiic Jiail is a groat bearer, and a "good" fruit, of not nuicli character. 

 lt< juice, though abuiulunt, wants flavor. Sejiteniber. 



Stevens' Genesee, is much of the White Doyenne stamp, without its fineness of tex- 

 ture. It is, however, much more roundish than the Doyenne usually is, (though I liave 

 soon specimens of Doyenne pronounced Stevemi' Genesee by those who know both fruits 

 will^ and are judyes) and is not so highly flavored. "Very good." September. 



Surpasse Viryalieu is, without exception, the finest-grained Tear that I ever tasted. 

 it is almost as melting as a Strawberry, and delicious in flavor. We have received it 

 from France under the name of Bcurre (TEnyhciin, Colmar Van Mons is also iden- 

 tical. " Best." September. 



Seckel I have never seen so large in this part of the country, as the past season. 

 AVe had many which were over two inches in diameter, and some nearly two and a 

 (juartor. "Best." September. Contrary' to the experience of many cultivators, we 

 find that it does well on Quince, and makes a very "stocky" tree, fruiting profusely 

 from the surface of the ground. 



St. Michael Archanye, thus far, is a small, greenish Pear, merely "good." Sept. 



Swan''s Orcuiye, or Onondaya, has disappointed me much. It is certainly a large, 

 handsome Pear, bears well, grows well on the Quince, and forms a fine tree ; but it is 

 not what I have expected. Its flavor is a fat acid, too frequently. I have eaten it for 

 tliree seasons, and can not rank it higher than "good." Our specimens were splendid 

 in appearance, and apparently perfect, but the first mouthful is invariably discouraging; 

 for, with such a beautiful exterior, it certainly seems as if the flavor should approximate 

 more nearly to it than it proves to do. October. 



Sieulle I estimate much more highly. It is of fine size and appearance, with the 

 exact fiavor of the White Doyenne. " Best." October. 



Suzctte de Bavay I fear is a humbug. Instead of being a splendid winter Pear, 

 keeping until April, it is about the size and shape of the Yellow Siberian Crab, and 

 not half as eatable. The tree is a splendid grower, and forms a beautiful pyramid 

 spontaneously, but so far the fruit has proved an utter failure. 



Van Mons' Leon le Clerc is a magnificent-looking fruit, but I find it disposed to 

 crack, as is the bark of the tree also. It has not yet proved a very abundant bearer, 

 nor anything remarkable in quality. "Good." October. 



White Doyenne is, after all, one of the best Pears in the world, or at least in West- 

 ern New York. Occasionally a tree is seen bearing cracked fruit, but it is an exception, 

 and the rule is, large, handsome, beautiful specimens, on both dwarfs and standards, 

 not unfrequently three inches in diameter. " Best." September and October. 



Wilhelmine strongly resembles the Jaminette, both in wood and fruit. " Good." 



Winter Welis should be a little larger, for it is a capital winter Pear, and there is 

 much more gratification in keeping a large Pear over winter than a small one, even 

 if it is "veiy good." 



