58 BEURRfi OLAIEGEATT. 



fails to produce a crop of fruit. It ripens in Octo- 

 ber and November. 



The Seckel is a recognized favorite throughout 

 the country. Its quality is unquestionable. The 

 drawback to its culture for market is on account of 

 its size and tardiness in coming into bearing. The 

 tree must have age before any money can be real- 

 ized from the Seckel. A list made up without this 

 pear would be incomplete. In setting out an 

 orchard, I would have but a comparatively small 

 number of Seckels; in fact, I would much prefer 

 grafting large trees of poor kinds with this variety 

 than planting stock as it comes from the nursery. 



Beurre Clairgeau is a large and very showy pear, 

 commanding a higher market price than any other 

 variety ripening at the same time. We are culti- 

 vating this variety in the orchard, but I am still un- 

 certain whether it will come up to the standard of a 

 reliable kind for market. The difficulty is, that in 

 certain seasons the tree sheds its leaves during the 

 month of August, and the fruit, before gathering 

 time, is almost entirely covered with small black 

 spots, which make it unsightly. In a few instances, 

 I have known the fruit to be cracked. It has not 

 done so on our soil. When Duchesse d'Angou- 

 lemes are selling for $20, the Clairgeau, well grown 

 will bring $30 per barrel. 



