VARIETIES OF PEARS FOR EASTERN NEW YORK 993 



I shall briefly present the strong and the weak points of the 

 varieties mentioned. 



CLAPP'S FAVORITE 



Clapp's, or riapp's Favorite, as it is more frequently called, 

 has all the qualifications for a good market variety. The fruit, 

 being of large size, handsome appearance and good quality, is 

 popular in the markets. The tree is a strong grower, absolutely 

 hardy, and a free and regular bearer. The fact that it is the 

 first desirable variety to mature, being about two weeks earlier 

 than the Bartlett, would seem to leave nothing to be desired as 

 a commercial sort. The one great drawback is blight. I know 

 of no variety in which blight control is more difficult. On well- 

 drained soil, if not overstimulated, close attention may largely 

 overcome this trouble. 



BARTLETT 



The Bartlett is preeminently the great commercial pear, being 

 well known and popular in all the markets of this country, as 

 well as abroad. Under good care this variety succeeds on all 

 soils, from sand to clay, provided said soils are drained either 

 naturally or artificially, for it goes without saying that no fruit 

 tree will thrive with wet feet. I am not familiar ;vvith any variety 

 that adapts itself so well to different soils, unless it be 1 the Kieffer. 

 Given good care, the Bartlett is a regular and profuse bearer of 

 beautiful fruit. In the orchard the tree is a free and upright 

 grower, and comes into bearing at an early age. It has a strong 

 tendency to overbear, which should be corrected by severe thin- 

 ning; otherwise there is a liability to exhaustion and dwarfing of 

 the tree. The Bartlett is rather subject to blight, but yields more 

 readily to control measures than does the Clapp's. All things con- 

 sidered, it is the most valuable commercial pear we have in eastern 

 New York, or, for that matter, in this country. 



SECKEL 



In the Seckel we have the standard of excellence, and few 

 indeed are the lovers of fruit who do not appreciate this delicious 

 pear. Despite its small size and not very attractive appearance, 

 it is popular and in good demand in the markets. Well-grown 

 specimens of this variety command top figures, as a rule. This 



