THE 



Canadian Horticulturist. 



Vol. XXI. Toronto, 18 9 8 November. No. ii 



THE BOSC. 



(Beurrr Bosc Downing). 



^OW that the export trade in 

 llV Canadian pears bids fair to 

 prove remunerative, it is 

 most important that our fruit 

 growers consider seriously 

 what varieties best suit the 

 British market, and what are 

 best adapted to such long distance 

 shipments. We are much disappointed 

 that our peaches and our grapes have 

 not met with more encouragement in 

 the English market ; but it is some 

 satisfaction to know that our finer 

 varieties of pears, such as Bartlett, 

 Anjou, Howell, Louise, Clairgeau, Bosc, 

 and even Kieffer command a fair price 

 in England. A few years ago, when 

 our home markets gave us 75c. to $1 

 per basket for these pears, there was no 

 object in exporting them, but now that 

 pears only bring 25c. to 45c. in our 

 markets, our only hope for profitable 

 fruit culture is in its export. To do 

 this we must plant or top graft the best 



varieties as soon as we have experience 

 enough to know which they are. 



The Bosc pear is not as widely known 

 among cultivators in Canada as its 

 merits deserve. Though a russet, it 

 yellows as it ripens ; the pear is large in 

 size, and uniform on the tree as if 

 thinned purposely ; and the texture is 

 such that it can be exported in fine con- 

 dition. In quality, a well grown Bosc 

 is first-class. On the whole, we would 

 place this pear among the valuable 

 kinds for planting for export to the 

 foreign markets. 



Origin. — A chance seedling found in 

 France, and dedicated to M. Bosc, the 

 eminent director of the Jardin des 

 Plantes at Paris, about the year 1835. 



Tree. — A vigorous grower, and a 

 regular bearer, carrying its fruit singly 

 and not in clusters as is the habit of 

 some varieties. 



Fruit. — Large, 4 inches long by 3 

 15 



