54 SEEDLING — PEOPAGATION OF VAEIETIES. 



many promisiDg fruits, in their first season, have 

 important defects, such as rotting at the core, gritti- 

 ness, or astringencj. Some excellent pears have 

 been discarded as outcasts in their lirst fruiting, 

 which subsequently proved to be worthy of high rank. 

 It has been advised not to hasten the fruiting of seed- 

 lings, by budding on the quince or grafting on older 

 trees, as it is supposed to change the character of the 

 fruits too much for identification in future growth; 

 but for these opinions I can see no good reasons. M. 

 De Jonge, of Brussels, says : 



" A bud inserted near the ground in a quince stock, 

 w^ill produce fruit in the third or fourth year ; and, 

 though the wood may acquire a diiferent tinge, yet 

 the form of the fruit will remain the same, although 

 some varieties may be larger, of richer flavor, and in 

 greater abundance. These effects are, however, excep- 

 tions, and are attributable to the sort of quince, of 

 which there are several varieties, differing as widely in 

 their influence on the Pear,, as the varieties of the 

 wild pear employed for stock." 



The period of time required to prove a new variety 

 will exhaust the patience of most persons. Three 

 years will be required to judge if the seedling promises 

 sufiiciently to encourage its cultivation ; seven years 

 more, with pruning and good cultivation, to produce 

 fruit; five years more, of successive fruiting, to 

 definitively test its quality, and correctly determine its 

 worth. 



Fifteen years of extra care and attention are thus 

 required to prove a single variety ; and if to this we 

 add ten years more, before it can be extensively 



