138 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND 



of Danvers, and Prince pear tree, of Chatham, in the old colony, 

 are almost commensurate with the settlement of the country. 



The pear tree requires a rich soil, and fair exposure to the 

 sun, to perfect its fruit. The tree needs culture and pruning. 

 Enriching the land increases the production, and renders the 

 fruit larger, fairer, and higher flavored. In addition to other 

 modes of enriching lands for pear trees, it has recently been rec- 

 ommended, to place, about the body and roots, rusty iron and 

 pounded cinders. Lime and ashes do well for pear trees. Graft- 

 ing pears on quince stocks, or the common thorn, is known to 

 facilitate production, and allow the gardener to raise many 

 varieties on a small spot of land. 



The succession of pears that will furnish good varieties of 

 fruit, from the harvest till mid-winter, are the Harvest, which is 

 the earliest, but an indifferent fruit ; the Bloodgood, which soon 

 follows, and is fine ; Dearborn's Seedling, Jargonelle, Julienne, 

 the Bartlett, Good Christian or Early Sugar, All these ripen in 

 July, August, and September. The Fall pears are the Doyenne, 

 Seckel, Flemish Beauty, St. Ghirlain, Duchesse d'Angouleme, 

 Brown Beurre, and many other of the Beurre and other good 

 pears, which ripen in September, October, and November. The 

 winter pears best known in this vicinity, are the St. Germain, 

 an old variety, Beurre d'Aremberg, Easter Beurre, Vicar of 

 Winkfield, and Winter Nelis. 



Apples. There is no better country in the world for apples 

 than New England and New York. The varieties of excellent 

 fruit are numerous, and capable, with care, of being in use the 

 whole year. A gentleman in Connecticut informed the writer, 

 that he had not been out of good apples, sufficient for the use of 

 a small family, for seven successive years. The apple is un- 

 questionably the best and most useful fruit in the world. Some 

 of the very best sorts are seedlings of modern productions. Of 

 these, the Belden Sweeting is one. It was originally found in 

 the grounds of the Rev. Joshua Belden, of Weathersfield, near 

 half a century ago. Henry Bright presented the only specimen 

 that I have ever seen in Massachusetts, to the exhibition to-day. 

 It is excellent for the table and for baking. 



The Baldwin apple, also, has an interesting history. It was 

 raised in Middlesex County, many years ago, and was called 



