28 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Wilder showed 317 named varieties of pears and Charles M. 

 Hovey, 2G0. Col. ^Yilder was asked how many of these he would 

 advise growing. He replied by holding up his two hands, upon 

 the fingers of which could be enumerated the most desirable varie- 

 ties. 



Mr. AVood recommended the following list of pears: Bartlett,. 

 Bosc, Sheldon, Seckel, Dana's Hovey, and Anjou. 



The Bartlett is so well known that it hardly needs mention and 

 the Bosc is one of the finest. The Sheldon is also well known 

 and a good market variety. The Seckel is the standard of quality 

 with which all others are compared.. The Dana's Hovey, a seed- 

 ling from the Seckel, is a favorite and one of the best selling sorts 

 on the market. It is sometimes called the Thanksgiving pear 

 from the season in which it is at its best. The Anjou is considered 

 the best winter pear although it has lately shown a disposition to 

 scab and some are grafting it over to other varieties; but this 

 trouble can doubtless be obviated by proper spraying. 



Peaches, as you all know, are uncertain and we have to take 

 chances w-ith this crop. It is a good plan to plant a few each year, 

 thus replacing those that succumb to disease or are killed by the 

 winter weather. However, in Connecticut they are doing more 

 than we are and are making it reasonably successful. 



Among the varieties recommended are the Crawford's Early, 

 Crosby, Foster, Oldmixon, Carman, and Elberta. In many 

 seasons the Crosby bears a crop when others fail. The Elberta, 

 a new variety introduced within ten years, is a handsome peach, 

 resembling the Crawford. 



Cherries should receive more attention than they have had. 

 The best sorts are the Black Tartarian, Downer's Late, and Gov. 

 Wood. 



Interest in plums has increased during the last few years with 

 the introduction of several varieties from Japan, among which 

 the Abundance and Burbank are noteworthy. Of our own kinds 

 the Bradshaw, Washington, and Lombard will prove more satis- 

 factory than others. 



In grapes the list of desirable varieties is a long one but the 

 following are recommended: Worden, Concord, and Moore's- 

 Early, for purple varieties; Niagara and Pocklington for white;: 



