A CHAPTER ON PEARS. 



BY DR. WM. W. VALK, FLUSHING, L. I. 



A COMPARISON of opinions, merely, may not 

 be without its use, particularly when such 

 comparison is made between persons resi- 

 dent in different countries and climates. 

 The cultivation of the pear, for instance, is 

 necessarily modified by the exigencies of 

 the climate in which it is grown ; and this 

 influence not only may, but does, affect the 

 quality of the fruit so much, as to render 

 the same pear unexceptionably fine in one 

 locality, and good for nothing in another. 

 Our own experience has proved this ; and 

 we doubt not the experience of all candid 

 men will be to the same effect. So, too, 

 the quality of the soil exercises a controlling 

 effect, both upon the health and vigor of 

 the tree, and the value of its fruit. In the 

 one case, it is perfectly satisfactory to the 

 cultivator, when that soil is congenial to 

 the habit of the tree ; in the other, he has 

 nothing to look for but disappointment. 

 Singularly enough, and most unaccountable 

 is it, that notwithstanding the acknowledged 

 influence, both of climate and soil, in pro- 

 moting, retarding, or absolutely preventing 

 the growth and prolificacy of fruit trees, 

 there are thousands yearly purchased and 

 planted, by a great many persons, without 

 a moment's consideration of these well es- 

 tablished facts. North, south, east, and 

 west, in every kind of soil, known and un- 

 known, pear trees are expected to flourish 

 and be productive ; and, if in each particu- 

 lar locality certain varieties do not give satis- 

 faction, there is no thought bestowed upon 

 the real causes of the misfortune ; but upon 

 the varieties, '■'"per se^'''' is lavished all the 

 blame. They are at once pronounced bad 

 upon false evidence. 



Some time in June last, I addressed a 



letter to a friend in Brussels, who cultivates 

 a great many fruit trees, (mostly pears,) and 

 requested him, if convenient, to give me a 

 list of those he knew to be /he best in that 

 clhnate. In his reply, received Oct. 21st, 

 allusion is made to the influences I have 

 mentioned above ; and I have his experi- 

 ence where he in, accompanied by a doubt as 

 to how far it will prove correct in the Uni- 

 ted States. " But, (says he,) in your im- 

 mense extent of country, embracing, as it 

 does, every variety of soil and climate, 

 there need be no difficulty in growing all 

 good pears to perfection. Your amateurs 

 have certainly to make themselves familiar 

 with certain facts relating to vegetable phy- 

 siology, and then apply them to the prac- 

 tice of selecting and growing every really 

 valuable pear, if they desire to be success- 

 ful. Some grow best on the natural stock, 

 others on the quince, and some are worth- 

 less on either. Some do best in rich soil, 

 some not, and all more or less require it to 

 be moist or dry to a greater or less extent. 

 The variety and the stock, best adapted for 

 it, will go far to determine all these points j 

 let your pomologists study them by reading 

 and experiment. They will not regret the 

 time spent, I assure you," 



" The pears known to be of the first qua-- 

 lity here, (Belgium,) by my own trials, and 

 those of other experienced cultivators, are 

 as follows, viz : 



Ananas, Angleterre do Noisette, Beau present 

 d'Artois, Bello d'Aoiit, Belle de Noel, Belle epine 

 Dumas, Belle exccUente, Belle Henriette, Belle 

 Julie, Bellissime d'ete, Bergamotte crassaned'- 

 automne, Berg, crassane d'ete, Berg, crassane 

 d'hiver, Berg, d'Esperen, Berg, de Hollande, 

 Berg, de Paques, Berg. Libotton, Berg. Syl- 

 vange, Beurre Antoinette, B. Beauehamps, B. 

 Beaumont, B. Benoist, B. Benner, B. Beymont, 

 B. blanc, B, blanc des Capwcius, B. Bosc, B. 



