192 YAJBIETIES. 



affords a striking instance of the fallibility of any standard of taste; 

 for, while many consider it unsurpassed, not a few regard it as 

 inferior. 



The chief difficulty in growing it results from its precocious and 

 too abundant fruitfulness. The tree coming into bearing at four 

 or five years from the bud on its own roots, is often the first time 

 so overloaded with fruit, that its growth is checked for several 

 years, and thus it fails to attain fair size in many years. 



On the QuincC;, the Bartlett is the most objectionable variety on 

 our catalogue. It grows vigorously for two or three years, till 

 fruiting commences, and then, if it bears abundantly, it perishes 

 soon after ; and even if carefully managed, and fruit-thinned, it 

 rarely attains to a vigorous condition. The natural groMi,h of the 

 Bartlett, unchecked by fruit-bearing, is strong and vigorous ; the 

 shoots exhibit a peculiar equality of size throughout their entire 

 length, ending abruptly and bluntly. 



As a market pear, it has no superior, taking into consideration 

 all its qualities — its early bearing, its great productiveness, and 

 regularity, the fair size and bright lemon tint of its fruit, its melt- 

 ing, buttery flavor, and its universal popularity. The fruit pos- 

 sesses a peculiar musky aroma, which somewhat affects the taste. 

 The pears exhibit a remarkable uniformity of excellence. There 

 is not that inequality in the product of a tree, that is found in 

 some varieties — a part very good and a part very poor. 



The fruit may be picked when quite green and hard, trans- 

 ported long distances without injury, and still ripen with perfect 

 flavor and high color. The Bartlett has, however, some defects. 

 It is more subject to blight than most other varieties — a consequence 

 of its strong, succulent, protracted growth. It cannot be grown 

 on the Quince with success. Its fruit ripens when other fruit is 

 most abundant ; all the late summer and early autumn fruits dis- 

 puting the market with it. But it has the advantage of producing 

 good crops every year. 



The French make it succeed much better than others on the 

 Quince, and they propagate it on that stock largely. Having a 

 large number grown on the Quince sent me one spring from France, 

 by mistake, I planted one hundred and fifty — then ordinary-sized 



