INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



Since the first appearance of "Pear Culture for 

 Profit/' there has been a great change in public 

 opinion on many of the main features in the methods 

 of growing pears for profit. 



The business has settled down upon a more solid 

 basis, and exaggerated statements of large profits on 

 small outlays have passed away from the minds of 

 those who have followed the business with an intelli- 

 gent understanding. Comparatively few varieties have 

 been introduced during the last ten years that have 

 taken a prominent position among the established 

 kinds for orchard culture. Hence the list recommend- 

 ed in " Pear Culture for Profit" is to-day as good and 

 as popular as when the book was first published. 



Among the promising sorts now on trial is the 

 " Souvenir de Congress" and "Quinn," and one of the 

 most showy and worthless is that over-praised pear 

 known as the " Keifer," or " Keifer's Hybrid." 



The matter of growing pears, either for pleasure or 

 profit has, of late years, been divested of many of the 

 whimsical fancies and impractical theories which were 

 fastened to it for many years during what might be 

 termed its infancy in this country. Like all other 

 branches of productive industry, time and experience 

 are sure cures for many of the wild and unfounded 

 statements which find their way into print, and are so 

 likely to mislead the novice and to injure the cause of 

 (xi) 



