PREFACE. IX 



catalogues issued here and abroad, suppose that all nine of the 

 above are different varieties when they are really all different 

 names for a single pear. In this record of synonymes, I have 

 therefore availed myself of the valuable experience of the Lon- 

 don Horticultural Society, and added all the additional in- 

 formation in my own possession. 



Many of the more important varieties of fruit are shown in 

 outline. I have chosen this method as likely to give the most 

 correct idea of the form of a fruit, and because I believe that 

 the mere outline of a fruit, like a profile of the human face, will 

 often be found more characteristic than a highly finished portrait 

 in colour. The outlines have been nearly all traced directly 

 from fruits grown here. They are from specimens mostly 

 below the average size. It has been the custom to choose the 

 largest and finest fruits for illustration a practice very likely 

 to mislead. I believe the general character is better ex- 

 pressed by specimens of medium size, or rather below it. 



It only remains for me to present my acknowledgments to the 

 numerous gentlemen, in various parts of the country, who have 

 kindly furnished information necessary to the completion of the 

 work. The names of many are given in the body of the vol- 

 ume. But to the following I must especially tender rny thanks, 

 for notes of their experience, or for specimens of fruits to solve 

 existing doubts. 



In Massachusetts, to Messrs. M. P. Wilder, S. G. Per- 

 kins, J. P. Gushing, B. V. French, S. Downer, and C. M. Ho- 

 vey, of Boston ; John C. Lee, J. M. Ives, the late Robert Man- 

 ning and his son R. Manning, of Salem ; and Otis Johnson, of 

 Lynn. 



In Connecticut, to Dr. E. W. Bull, of Hartford ; Mr. S. Ly- 

 man, of Manchester ; and the Rev. H. S. Ramsdell, of Thomp- 

 son. 



In New York, to Messrs. David Thomas, of Aurora ; J. J. 

 Thomas, of Macedon ; Luther Tucker, and Isaac Denniston, of 

 Albany ; Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh ; T. H. Hyatt, 

 of Rochester ; R. L. Pell, of Pelham ; C. Downing, of New 

 burgh ; and Wm. H. Aspinwall, of Staten Island. 



