278 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



from any bad varieties. It may be supposed that when the 

 bees fly to a distance, the pollen is detached from their legs 

 by the action of the air ; therefore we must attribute the 

 complete fertilization of the flowers of a tree to the pollen of 

 adjoining trees that are visited by bees and flies. The con- 

 sideration of these circumstances ought not to be omitted. 

 Moreover, it is essential to have only vigorous trees, on the 

 pear stock, obtained from the latest generation of improved 

 seedlings. 



A limited nuniber of fruit should only be left on the tree, 

 from which seedlings are intended to be raised, in order that 

 the fruit may acquire its natural size and perfection. When 

 gathered, the finest should be selected from spurs on the most 

 vigorous part of the tree. The fruit should be kept in a suit- 

 able place till it becomes quite ripe. 



In cutting the fruit, care should be taken not to injure the 

 seeds, of which three, four, or five may be found, perfectly 

 matured, in the cells. Whether the seed is roundish, flat, 

 ova), or oblong, or whether its color is black or nut-brown, 

 provided it has a well-fed pulp, it may be considered fertile 

 and ought to produce a plant, if preserved with care, and sown 

 at the proper season. 



When taken out of the cells, the seeds should be put in a 

 small jar, half filled with dry sand, with which the seeds 

 should be mixed. The jar should be placed in the dark, 

 where the seeds can neither dry nor rot. After remaining in 

 this situation for a month or two, the seeds should be taken 

 out and put in papers, each sort separately, marking the name 

 or number of the variety of fruit from which the seeds were 

 taken, together with the date of the ripening of the fruits. 

 These directions, it will be understood, are necessary, in 

 order that amongst the seedlings raised the preference may be 

 given in planting to those likely to prove the best. The seed 

 is collected from the middle of autumn till the end of spring ; 

 and by keeping it in the way above mentioned the skin of 

 the seed will acquire a consistence, and the kernel a firmness 

 that will enable it to vegetate with greater vigor when commit- 

 ted to the soil, in the open air. I have seen pear seeds sown in 



