PAET IL — THE SEEDLmG, AND PEOPA- 

 GATION OF YAKIETIES. 



THE SEEDLING. 



It is surprising that so little attention has been paid 

 to the perfection of the seeds which form the germ 

 of the trees we so highly value. Pear seeds are 

 peculiarly liable to prove defective, being gathered 

 from all sources ; and although they have recently sold 

 at prices, varying from one hundred to two hundred 

 dollars per bushel, there has not been a strict scrutiny 

 as to their quality. The dealer cannot be too severely 

 blamed for this, as no standard of excellence has been 

 establislied by the nurserymen. The latter is intent 

 only on procuring a large supply of stocks for bud- 

 ding, and as the results of inherent weakness in the 

 stocks do not always manifest themselves in the nur- 

 sery, he entertains but little anxiety about the source 

 or defects of the seeds he plants. 



After abundant experience, I am satisfied, that not 

 one-half of the pear seeds sown vegetate ; and of those 

 that do, not more than one-fourth produce healthy 

 stocks, and that of the hundreds of thousands of trees 

 sold from the nurseries, not one in five reaches its 

 tenth year. 



Carelessness in transportation, ignorance, or indo- 



