Xii IKTBODUCTION. 



horticulture. The subject of growing pears as an in- 

 vestment for capital, with the object of making 

 money that is, of receiving a fair compensation in 

 the way of returns is the form in which the subject 

 presents itself to the minds of those who have been 

 close observers of what has been accomplished in pear 

 growing during the last dozen or fifteen years. The 

 days of wonderful yield of fruit from trees planted 

 only three or four years, with fancy prices for every 

 specimen, are numbered among the things of the past. 

 The subject has been thoroughly divested of all ex- 

 traneous matter, and is now, as it ought to have been 

 years ago, judged by the rules of common sense. Ex- 

 perience, a safe but an expensive teacher, has effec- 

 tually cured many of the fallacies which misled almost 

 every one who attempted pear growing twenty-five 

 years ago. Many of those early beginners have lived 

 to see their fond hopes blasted and their anticipated 

 profits dwindle down to nothing, with a total loss of 

 capital and interest. But now there is no excuse for 

 any intelligent person who makes such gross mistakes. 

 From year to year these errors have become more 

 glaring, until at this time he who blunders must be 

 blind to the events which have taken place in almost 

 every section of this country where pears can be grown. 

 Consumers of the fruit have so classified varieties that 

 it is no longer a question of doubt which are the most 

 popular sorts in market. The question of popularity 

 is an important one for those about to embark in the 

 business of pear growing for profit. The vigor of 

 growth, or the prolific bearing of a variety, is of small 

 moment for those who invest money in this branch of 

 business. If the sort is not known or popular in 



