1906] REVISION OF LIST OF FRUITS. 57 



personal feeling, but by experience and the knowledge which 

 one acquires by contact with the markets. 



The early growers of pears cultivated too many kinds. 

 About forty years ago I learned that something over one hundred 

 varieties on one place would be a superfluity. We have found 

 in our experience that certain pears have come to be exhibited 

 in quantities, while a pear that some individuals would say was 

 as good as any, we find that but two or three people cultivate, 

 and if you go to the markets you will not find them at all. It 

 is by such things as this that I propose to be governed in making 

 the list recommended to-day. 



We have four pears for which we offer the largest premiums 

 offered. The general experience of exhibitors and growers for 

 the market justifies the selection of the big four in three cases 

 out of four. Three of these pears are listed here, — the Anjou, 

 the Bosc and Sheldon. These are pears that the general public 

 has had a good degree of success with. They demand on the 

 average the best prices that any pears demand in the market. 

 The Comice is also one of the big four, but there is not much 

 of a market for it, but on account of the superiority of the 

 Comice in flavor and quality I thmk that it should be kept on 

 our list. There are two pears in the market list which I should 

 recommend to be dropped, the Giff'ard and Dana's Hovey, 

 which I should place in the amateur list. 



People like a russet pear better than a green pear. The 

 Seckel pear in quality is a standard of excellence, and I have 

 found within a year or two that physicians would allow theu^ 

 patients to eat a Seckel pear when they would not permit them 

 to eat any other pear at all. 



The Lawrence, which has in the last ten years increased in 

 quantity and quality, I would recommend to be placed in the 

 general and market list. I would recommend that the Anjou, 

 Bartlett, Bosc, Seckel, Sheldon and Lawrence be placed on the 

 general or market list and that the Giffard be dropped ; that 

 Dana's Hovey be placed in the list of amateur culture. 



We find some pears which I should hesitate to recommend, 

 for certain pear trees seem to be peculiarly subject to pear blight 



