REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 93 



'■'•British Queen. — Medium size, acute pyriform, cinnamon rus- 

 set, flesh butterj^ juicy and tolerably rich. Promises well Octo- 

 ber 4tb. 



"Of the kinds described in j'our report for 1871, Dr. Koch, 

 Dr. Lindley, Camphrenel, Calebasse d'Octobre, Lucie Audusson, 

 and Maurice Desportes fulfil the promise of that season." 



On the 19th of October some remarkably large specimens of the 

 Lawrence Pear were exhibited, from Mr. Parker Earle, of South 

 Pass, 111. In swelling to this large size, they have, as we have 

 before remarked is apt to be the case, especially in southern lati- 

 tudes, acquired a somewhat irregular and knobby form, so that they 

 were recognized by but few persons, but would rather have been 

 taken for moderate sized Duchesse d'Angoulemes. Although 

 very carefully packed, a majority of the specimens appeared to be 

 much bruised around the eye, but a letter since received from Mr. 

 Earle assures us that this was not the case, and as we believe it 

 will be of general interest, we copy a portion of his statement 

 on this point. He sa^'s : " The injured pears were not bruised in 

 transit, — I wish that was what ailed them, — but it was the develop- 

 ment of a disease which attacked that variety this year for the first 

 time. It is utterly unlike anything I have seen before, and I have 

 no notion of the cause. The homely word ' dropsy ' best ex- 

 presses the appearance of it. About one-fourth of my crop was 

 afi'ected, either on the tree or just after gathering, so that they 

 could not be marketed ; and I judge from market sales, that fully 

 half sent showed injury and hasty decay before sale. The first 

 appearance was a watery translucent spot at the base of the pear 

 which, in a week's time would involve one-half, or one-third of the 

 fruit. These dropsical affections were wholly independent of any 

 insect or mechanical injuries. Just the result to the flavor and 

 texture of the fruit you saw in the specimens sent you. These, 

 however, were all sound as a nut, and perfect in every respect when 

 sent, and so packed that bruises were impossible, except from 

 considerable external violence. Our summer was exceedingly hot, 

 especially for two or three weeks in August, some degrees warmer 

 than my thermometer has ever before indicated. This may have 

 caused the disease. I can think of no other peculiar condition." 



Grapes. — Such vines as were not too much injured by the win- 

 ter to fruit looked well during the early part of the season, and of 



