22 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Wilder said that to ripen pears it is only necessary to bring 

 them into a higher temperature — 50° and upwards — and keep them 

 from the light. 



The Chairman asked whether better quality could not be obtained 

 b}' special methods with some varieties, the Vicar of Winkfield for 

 instance. 



Mr. Wilder answered the Chairman's question in the affirmative- 

 Mr. Murray had never thought much of the Vicar, but this year 

 he had some fine specimens, which were brought into the cellar near 

 the furnace to ripen, and colored up beautifully, so as to look very 

 tempting, but they were worthless for eating. 



Alexander Dickinson had found that when proper care is given 

 to it the Vicar is a nice pear. The}' are finer on quince stocks 

 than on pear roots, but are apt to over bear on the quince, and 

 must be thinned. If rightl}' handled they are one of the best pears 

 — he thought more of them now than ever before ; when well ripened 

 up they are nearl}' equal to Beurre d'Anjou. 



Mr. Murray- said that he had one tree and that was all he wanted. 

 He considered it the most worthless of all pears. ' 



Mr. Dickinson said that he kept them in a stable where it was 

 cool and shady, and never picked them over until they were sold. 

 When well ripened the}' look very much like Bartletts. 



Mr. Wilder said that A. J. Downing once asked him what pear 

 he would plant if he were restricted to one variet}', and he replied 

 "the Vicar." The Massachusetts Agricultural Club, after five 

 3'ears' discussion agreed on eighteen pears as most desirable for 

 cultivation, and the Vicar was one. Messrs, Walker, Cabot, and 

 Lovett, who were experienced pomologists, ditfered at first, but 

 finall}^ agreed. Mr. Wilder said the Vicar is sometimes all but first 

 rate. It has more aroma than any other pear, and has sold for 

 from two dollars and a half to three dollars per dozen ; but this, it 

 must be remembered, was a long time ago. 



E. W. Wood said that five 3'ears ago the Newton Horticultural 

 Societ}' recommended twent}' varieties of pears, of which the Vicar 

 was one, but there was a strong opposition to including it, and he 

 then quoted the opinion expressed b}' Samuel Walker and just re- 

 ferred to b}- Mr. Wilder. But the speaker said he had never been 

 able to grow^ it of good qualit}' ; the trees, especially dwarfs, set a 

 great crop, but his never matured so as to make a first class table 

 jDear. In January, 1874, Mr. Dickinson took the first prize for 



