Pomological Gossip. 113 



time to grow. Our season is hot and short, and they come 

 to maturity very quick, and don't get such size." 



It may be the " Superior" will, with us, having more time 

 to grow, excel Hovey's in magnitude, as it does in Cincin- 

 nati, where it originated. Who knows ? 



Mr. Norton's question is certainly significant. Another 

 season will reveal " who knows." 



Mr. Longworth's Opinion of Pears on the Quince 

 Stock. — Mr. Norton called on Mr. Longworth, the Nestor of 

 Horticulture in the West. 



'' By way of introducing myself, I had put into my valise 

 a specimen of each of the following pears : — White Doyenne, 

 Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Diel, and Duchess of Or- 

 leans, — and, on presenting them, I remarked that they grew 

 on dwarf trees, on quince stocks. 



'^ ' Q,uince stocks,' replied he, ' pears on quince ar'nt fit to 

 be in any man's garden. They never bear, and the fruit is- 

 good for nothing when they do.' 



" ' But, my dear sir, these grew on such trees, and they are 

 handsome specimens, and all bore such crops. I was obliged 

 to thin the fruit, and from one tree, only five years planted, I 

 gathered, this fall, more than a bushel of pears, good enough 

 for anybody.' 



" ' Five years ! I've had them in my garden these ten 

 years, and they have never borne at all. How many kinds 

 have you ?' 



" ' About sixty, growing, and had thirty-two in bearing 

 this season.' 



" ' They are gathering up a great many new varieties now- 

 a-days, but most of them are worthless. There are but three 

 or four kinds of pears worth eating.' 



" And so, enlightened in regard to pears, I changed the 

 subject, and talked of wine." 



If Mr. Longworth's knowledge of the strawberry is no 

 greater than his knowledge of pears, we fear but little reliance 

 can be placed upon his opinion of the new seedlings which 

 originated in his garden, and for which he or his own garden- 

 er was awarded the prize offered in part by himself. 



VOL. XVIIl. NO. III. 15 



