MARCH. 



141 



the nortli of Europe ? How have we succeeded in acclima- 

 tizing this vakiable fruit tree ? 



The sokition of these questions is necessary in order that 

 we may know the progress made, especially in our own times, 

 and the improvements which may be effected in certain kinds. 



No historical document contains any information as to the 

 native place of the primitive type of the pear tree. It is pre- 

 sumed to have come from the same countries as the vine, 

 cherry, peach, and apricot ; and most probably it grew origi- 

 nally on low hills and slopes. Indeed, at the present day, 

 notwithstanding the numerous transformations by seed, it 

 thrives best in such situations after it has arrived at a certain 

 age. 



The pear tree was cultivated more than 2000 years ago by 

 the Greeks and Romans, in whose writings are preserved the 

 names of several varieties raised from seed. It must have 

 been introduced into our countries by the Romans, after the 

 conquest of Gaul and England. It is known that the produc- 

 tions of Italy cannot be preserved in our variable, foggy, and 

 severe climate, unless sheltered by walls with a good aspect. 

 In sowing the seeds of fruits ripened in our country, with the 

 view of raising stocks for the propagation of introduced vari- 

 eties, some trees more vigorous may have been obtained. 

 Among these trees, some might be observed to produce fruit 

 as standards in the open ground, in good seasons ; and the 

 seeds of these would produce hardier trees, better adapted to 

 the climate than those originally introduced. 



In Belgium, where the soil is generally deep, and rich in 

 humus, the pear tree, on its own stock, has been cultivated 

 from time immemorial as a standard in the open ground. 

 One of our ancient authors, Dodona^us, of Mechlin, in speak- 

 ing of the pear tree, in his herbal, towards the middle of the 

 sixteenth century, said that the names of orchard varieties 

 change from one village to the other, and he therefore con- 

 sidered it useless to cite their names. This allegation proves 

 to a certain extent that, even at this period, a great number 

 of varieties existed in the country, doubtless of tolerably good 

 quality for kitchen use. This mode of sowing seeds of pears, 



