32 
until now. It is sufficient for me to say that the greatest returns I have ever read of 
were obtained from that peach on the Hudson river, and it has been growing in favor 
very rapidly. It isa late peach, coming in just before the Smock—a large, fine white- 
fleshed peach, usually red on one side and very productive, and the fruit-bud seems to be 
hardy. We had a very fine crop of them this year, which we sold in Buffalo at 85 cents 
to $1 per peck basket. You can judge from that how it is received in the market. It 
is becoming with us, or has already become, one of the standard varieties. The quality 
is good and people want it ; it is a free-stone entirely. 
Rev. C. N. Matruews (Kingsville).—What about Hynes’ Surprise ? 
Mr. Wititarp—I think I was the first in New York to grow it. All I have to say 
is that it is all that it is claimed to be. We have marketed two crops and sold them at 
very satisfactory prices. It is one of those early peaches following the Rivers that is 
absolutely a freestone—something it is difficult to get. Hynes’ Surprise is absolutely a 
freestone. 
A Memper.—Do you ripen the Catawba grape where you are! 
Mr. WiLtLarp.—Yes; we have ripened the Catawba grape at Geneva. 
EXPERIENCE IN PEAR CULTURE.. 
The PresipenT called on Mr. J. K. McMichael, of Waterford, Ont., to give a paper 
on his Experience in Pear Oulture. 
About twenty-five years ago, while we were planting a plot of three acres with 
Northern Spy apple trees, we set in one corner of the orchard a dozen pear trees. The 
soil is a sandy loam, slightly facing to the south. We had a variety of six or seven 
kinds in our group of pear trees. The best return we have had in profit from any one 
- of the trees, has been from a seedling grafted with Bartletts about seventeen years ago. 
The Winter Nelis proved to be a shy bearer and an uncouth tree, but free from blight. 
A fine Howell tree blighted badly nine or ten years after being planted, and the whole 
top had to be taken off to the trunk ; some sprouts grew, however, and the tree now is 
one of the largest in the group, producing fine, saleable fruit. Two trees of the Early 
Harvest were fine growers, maturing heavy crops of fruit, but not giving satisfactory 
returns in cash ; they were, ten years ago, grafted with Bartletts, and are producing large 
yields of first-class fruit. Clapp’s Favorite has been a fine growing tree, giving a quan- 
tity of large No. 1 pears; but the past season it was severely blighted. In this plot, by 
planting trees from the nursery, we have not been successful with either the Bartlett or 
Flemish Beauty, but the fruit has rarely been affected with a fungus. 
In Plot 2 the soil is limestone and sand, and gently slopes to the south. In 1871 
we planted in one corner of this orchard fifty pear trees. Two or three of the varieties 
were sadly disappointing when they gave a return in fruit. Instead of the order as sent 
to the nursery being filled and returned true to name, the nurserymen claimed and took 
the right to substitute other similar kinds to the ones in the order, when they did not 
have the varieties ordered in stock. The consequence was that some of the substituted 
varieties were worthless in the locality sent. The Bartlett trees planted in this soil 
made but a small growth. The fruit has been mostly free from blemish, and a fair- 
sized sample. The Flemish Beauty shows a fair growth of tree, but the fruit is consid- 
erably blotched, and in size and quality is No. 2. The Lawrence is a poor growing tree, 
and yields a small quantity of fruit of medium sample. Clapp’s Favorite is a large, fine 
growing tree, with heavy crops of first-class fruit, but is blighted badly. Beurre Bosc is 
a fair growing tree with very heavy crops of large No. 1 fruit. Beurre D’Anjou, a fine 
tree but a shy bearer. 
Plot 3 is located on the north side of a somewhat sharp-sloping ridge running east 
and west. The upper side of the field is a sandy loam, and the lower side clay. Formerly 
the land was very wet from spring water oozing out above the clay, but since under- 
draining the land has been very productive. In this plot we planted 100 Bartletts, 25 
Flemish Beauty and a few each of half-a-dozen other varieties, making a total of 154 
