1857.] REPORT ON PEARS. 11 



Among the recent varieties of Pears, which give promise of excellence, may 

 be named the " Beurre Superfin " and the " Beurre Clairgeaii." But it is 

 not recommended to go largely into the cultivation of new kinds to the exclu- 

 sion of the old and well-established varieties, until they have been carefully 

 tested by several years experience of their fruit and fruiting. The " Beurre 

 d' Anjou " is a variety that may safely be adopted and recommended. It is 

 unnecessary to speak of other varieties which are well known to most if not 

 all cultivators of the Pear, the St. Michael on Quince, the Bartlett, Seckel, 

 Flemish Beauty, Rostiezer, and other well-known kinds, need no commenda- 

 tion at our hands. 



It will be seen by reference to the sixth rule of our Society, as published in 

 the printed circular of 1857 — " No article shall be entitled, as part of a col- 

 lection or otherwise, to receive more than one premium," — that the Committee 

 were restricted in their award of premiums; and they have in no instance 

 awarded a second premium to any collection or part of a collection of a con- 

 tributor to whom a premium had been awarded. After consideration and 

 discussion, the Society adopted this rule for our government, and we have 

 endeavored faithfully to carry out the rule in its spirit and intention. 



The large and excellent collection of choice varieties exhibited by the 

 President of the Society, D. Waldo Lincoln, Esq., consisting of one hundred 

 and five varieties, were entered for exhibition only, and not in competition for 

 any premium, although well deserving of one, as well for the number and 

 beauty of the specimens as for the excellence of the varieties. So too the very 

 choice collection of Capt. George T. Rice, one of your Committee, consisting 

 of twenty varieties. These, by his particular request, were not considered as 

 in the competition for premiums. Great credit is due to Mr. John Milton 

 Earle for the untiring interest he has taken in procuring, propagating, and 

 disseminating new varieties of pears, as well from Europe as from different 

 sections of our own country. Many of the choicest new varieties have been 

 brought to the notice of cultivators in this vicinity through the means of Mr. 

 Earle. Honor to whom honor is due. And to him was awarded the premium 

 for the largest and best collection of pears, of not less than three specimens 

 each, in this year's exhibition. His collection contained one hundred and 

 twenty-three varieties, some mere specimens of the kind of pear, but a large 

 number were excellent specimens of superior varieties. Your Committee were 

 happy to notice, from these fruits on the tables, the continued interest felt for 

 the successful propagation of fruits of choice varieties by many friends of 

 Horticulture, whose contributions of fruits have done honor to their exertions 

 as well as graced the tables of the Society in former years. Where all are 

 deserving of credit, it would be, perhaps, deemed invidious to go into an elabo- 

 rate enumeration of contributors, and the comparative merits of their fruits. 

 Suffice it to say that your Committee have, after careful consideration, awarded 

 the premiums intrusted to their charge, as follows: — 



