1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 73 



to some extent possibly, ridding it of insects ? The Blight ? we 

 know not wlij it comes, nor what its origin. And yet the air, 

 like the blood, stagnates when its motion is arrested ; and stag- 

 nation at the last, is snrely death. Why not as well attribute 

 that mysterious disease to the stoppage or poisoning of circula- 

 tion, impeded on every side by lofty buildings in villages and 

 cities, whose erection and emanations check and infect the life- 

 giving curretit of the atmosphere so that they can no longer 

 bring " healing on their wings !" There had to be clearings to 

 make room for the first Orchards ; and it is now too late in the 

 day to claim that Orchards should be girdled with a forest, as a 

 pre-requisite to their successful growth. Have we not already 

 enfeebled them by too much tenderness of treatment, — impair- 

 ing the constitution of a tree, whose wood is of proverbial 

 tougliness ; and whose longevity, where man has not sapped its 

 conditions, exceeds memory if not tradition ? Whose land, — of 

 those who listen to me, — is " thoroughly underdrained ?" Is it 

 not the truth, — and the whole truth, — that a thrifty pear-tree, 

 set in a hole sufficiently capacious ; properly set at that ; amply 

 manured for food and well mulched for drink; will do for us 

 what it did for our fathers ? Return a larger yield of fine 

 fruit than we can consume, at home ; or find a convenient market 

 for, abroad ! "Hedges, liigh board-fences, and thorough under- 

 drainage " for those who like ; and who have more money than 

 they know how to waste otherwise. Let us be content, — neither 

 discouraging nor rejecting experiment, — if we can continue to 

 produce, in the old way, such specimens of the Cornice, Duchesse^ 

 and Sheldon, as were exhibited, in this Hall, on the seventh of 

 October ult. 



The Duchesse de Bordeaux commends itself, as a late keeper, 

 and was approved as of at least fair quality, throughout the last 

 Spring. That it will meet the demand for a late Winter, or 

 Spring, pear, — may be doubted, because of its quality. On 

 account of its unsettled rank; and to obtain information for some 

 wlio desired it ; your Secretary was induced to address a letter 

 to Mr. Barry which, with his reply, and the comments that it 

 made imperative, are ir.corporated in this Report : — 



