, PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 279 



These, said Mr. R. J. Dodge, were grown upon the sandy land of 

 Long Island. They are entirely unreliable upon our clay land in 

 Jersey. 



Mr. John Harold. — And do not always prove good upon our 

 Long Island soil. It is an unreliable sort anywhere, and this club 

 when this or any other sort is brought before it, should honestly 

 tell the people the truth. 



Dr. Grant. — This variety requires the very highest culture, and 

 then the fruit never reaches excellence upon a young tree. When 

 aged, the tree is inclined to overbear, and the fruit must be thinned 

 or it will not perfect itself. 



Mr, John Crane. — It is a poor sort w^here I live, near Elizabeth, 

 N. J. I think that nurserymen like to sell these trees, because 

 they are such vigorous growers when young. People used to be 

 cautioned not to buy anj^ sort that is so sure to bpng disappoint- 

 ment. 



Seckel Pears. 

 Mr. E. A. Dudley writes from Fern Bluff, near Quincy, 111., 

 some further account of the pears wdiich he forwarded to the club 

 under the name of Seckel, and which several members pronounced 

 Seckel in taste, but not in looks. Mr. D. says: "I have thought 

 that you may, perhaps, be correct in your judgment, and that the 

 decision of that question is one in which all fruit-eaters as well as 

 fruit-growers would feel an interest. If, indeed, it should appear 

 that this is a new variety, it will truly be a valuable acquisition. 

 These trees have uniformly borne such fruit, from their first bear- 

 ing, wdiile other Seckel trees in other parts of the orchard have 

 uniformly produced Seckels of the well known kind. The trees 

 are hardy, stout, symmetrically shaped by nature, regular and 

 abundant bearers; and the fruit, when seen on a clear day, with 

 its rich golden russett and bronze colors under different deo^rees 

 of light and shade, presents a picture of gorgeous beautv, far 

 surpassing anything else in the orchard. Mr. Quinn thought 

 some of the pears I sent were Fondante (V Automne. I assure 

 him I plucked every one myself from the tree which bears this 

 new style of Seckels. I intend next spring to graft cions from 

 this tree upon one which bears Seckels that are not disputed. I 

 would be glad of any suggestion that Avould aid me in prosecuting 

 my purpose to learn if this be a new variety, as I am not a bota- 

 nist*. The trees which bore the pears I sent you are decidedly 

 Seckel, and nothing else in any branch; and the Fondante d^Aw 



