KIPENIXG AND MAEKETING PEARS. 21 



len cloths might possibl}' produce some specific effect in heightening 

 the color of the fruit. He inquired Mr. Pierce's views on this 

 point. 



Mr. Pierce had not observed any special effect on the color from 

 the use of woollen cloths. He hud used them onlj- in cold weather 

 to keep the fruit warm. 



Robert Murray had generally been successful in keeping pears, 

 but this year the}' had not kept so well as usual. He put them in 

 boxes and kept them in a cool place, and brought them into a 

 warmer room to ripen them. The Winter Nelis was very fine, and 

 ripened earlier than usual, though the}^ shrivelled. The Sieulle 

 dropped its leaves, yet the fruit ripened. In previous seasons he had 

 kept the Beurre d'Anjou until March, but this year, with the same 

 care, they were all gone two months before that time. He did not 

 understand the cause of this difference in their ripening. He placed 

 Lawrence pears in a box in a cold shop, and covered them loosely, 

 and though they must have been frozen, in January every one of 

 them was perfect. 



Mr. Wilder said that his pears kept better this season than usual, 

 though some, left out-doors in heaps for a time, shrivelled. 



Mr. Murray said that he gathered his pears towards the close of 

 October ; last fall they remained on the trees longer than usual. 

 He allowed no air to strike the fruit after it was gathered. 



Aaron Davis Capen said that after planting his trees he did not 

 force them, for he believed that some growers were foi'cing their 

 trees too much, and he thought that his had done better than with 

 excessive culture. He had a neighbor who cultivated to such an 

 extent that the fruit was worthless. He was glad to hear Mr. 

 Murra}- speak of his failures, for he had failed himself, but only 

 through negligence. He had commonly left his pears out late — 

 until the snow came ; but this year he put them into the cellar 

 earlier, where they were more exposed to air and warmth, and con- 

 sequently decaj'ed earlier. At a meeting of the Norfolk Agricultural 

 .Society held the last week in March, about eight 3^ears ago, he ex- 

 hibited Passe Colmars in good preservation. He had kept Beurre 

 d'Aremberg and Winter Nelis to the end of March, but this year 

 the Winter Nelis were all gone the first of January. He had had 

 very handsome specimens of Vicar of Winkfield, which he kept in 

 the cellar, until the}' were wanted for market, when the}^ were 

 placed near a stove in a warm room and colored beautifully. 



