92 



HALF fl DOZEN PEftRS. 



At this season of the year when plant- 

 ing is being vigorously proceeded with, I 

 am often asked to recommend a few 

 pears for family use. I have no hesita- 

 tion in naming a half dozen which would 

 be my choice were I about to set that 

 number for myself: Clapp's Favorite, 

 Bartlett, Seckel, Howell, Sheldon, Law- 

 rence. They are listed in about the order 

 I find them to ripen. 



The Clapp's Favorite is the largest and 

 most satisfactory of all the early pears. 

 It bears regularly and abundantly. It 

 needs gathering the first week in August 

 with me, and to be kept inside in a 

 drawer for a week or so, when it is 

 splendid eating. If left on the tree later 

 to ripen it rots at the core. Bartlett 

 comes next, then Seckel.' Seckel makes one 

 wait a long while for its fruiting to com- 

 mence, but its excellence of fruit compen- 

 sates for it. The value of the Howell is 

 underestimated. It does not set its fruit 

 well when very young, but it entirely 

 loses this feature when it gets of fair size, 

 and in time becomes a prolific and regular 

 bearer. Its large waxy yellow fruit is ol 

 excellent flavor. It ripens with me in the 

 first half of October. 



Sheldon, a rather flat, russety looking 

 fruit, does not impress one by its appear- 

 ance. No one would be prepared tor the 

 juicy, sweet fruit it is when fully ripe. Its 

 time of ripening is towards the close of 

 October. Lawrence is a standard sort of 

 great reliability. The fruit is of fair size, 

 lemon yellow, juicy and sweet. It is 

 gathered in early November, not always 

 quite ripe then, but because of freezing 

 weather approaching. It keeps till about 

 Christmas. Joseph Meehan. 



Philadelphia. 



GARDENING. 



Dec. /, 



Burpee's 



T$t- "ft- 



PINK CUPID 



SWEET PEA will be as famous in Europe as in 

 America. It is second in the line of a new 

 family of Dwarf Sweet Peas which we have 

 had the honor of introducing 



Our Farm Annual for 1898, an authority on Sweet 

 Peas, the Leading American Seed Catalogue, 

 will be mailed free to any address after Jan. JO. 

 on application. 



W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., 



PHILADELPHIA. 



ARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, VINES, EVER- The..,. t g o„„., ., s „ r ,„„, .f H.nd, o™.- 

 GREENS, AND HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. ^^"^^^^"JXSS! 



tioo. F.ans and estimates furnished. Send your hat of needs for special rates. 

 I THE RRADTNG M'RSERY, JACOB ""V. MANNING, Pronrietor, READING, MASS. 



H 



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"Old Christmas' Wreath is still 



as green and red 

 As 'twas a thousand years ago." 



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Our Holiday Box 



Of "Christmas Greens," made up of Eight Cubic Feet of 



Holly Branches, Mistletoe, Bouquet Green, <* J* 



For Holly Wreaths, Evergreen Wreathing, Palm 



$5.00 by Leaves, Etc. «* J- J* J* J- J- •* 



Express, not prepaid. 



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VAUGHANS SEED STORE, 



NEW YORK, J 4 Barclay St. 84 & 86 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



