Black English, 

 Missouri currant. 

 New Scotch currant. 



FILBERTS, 



Red kernel, 

 Frizzled. 



84 fSKIfATB 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Red Alpine, 

 White Hanthois, 

 Ross' superb, 

 Graces glory. 

 Large early scarlet, 

 Hovey's seedling, 

 Keen's seedling, 



ROBERT L. PELL. 



Pears. 



Roxburyj Mass Oct. 16, 1843. 



Sir — I have placed on the tables of the American Institute six spe- 

 cimens of the " Vicar of Wakeheld " Pear, gathered at intervals of 

 seven days, commencing on the 31st of August. The respective 

 weight of each pear at the time of its being plucked from the Iree, 

 is as follows, viz: 



The specimens gathered on the 3lst August, 3| ounces. 



« " " " 7th Sept. 4| " 



u a a <( i4t|j a 55 « 



u a u u 21sth " 5| " 



it « « u 28th « 8i- <' 



" " " " 5th Oct. 8f " 



From the above statement it will be seen that the greatest increase 

 in the fruit was between the 21st and 28th of September. It may 

 be proper here to state that the best specimens on the tree were pluck- 

 ed, and that all the specimens are from the same tree. 



'i'he object of gathering the pear as early as the 31st of Aug., when 

 the fi uit had not attained only about one-third of its size when matur- 

 ed, was to test its capacity of ripening when thus early gathered, and 

 also to ascertain w^hich of the specimens would be in the highest fla- 

 vor, and best order for the table and the market, when they should 

 be matured, or perfectly ripe; and further, to learn from observation 

 in how many days each specimen, after it was gathered from the tree, 

 would be fit for the table. 



The subscriber had another object in view, and which he would 

 respectfully submit to the notice and favorable consideration of the 

 managers of this National Institutiori; it is the growth and ripening 

 of the pear as an article of commerce. 



The capabilities of our country to produce beautiful and high fla- 

 vored fruits is acknowledged by almost universal consent. Our ap- 

 ples, pears and grapes are perhaps superior to any in the world. 



It may be a question with some cultivators, w^hose opinions are 

 entitled to great respect, whether I have not over-rated the quality 

 of our grapes; I would therefore state, from the best information, 

 and frf^m consiilerable experience, such as my various opportunities 

 at the exhibitions of fruits in our country have given me, and among 

 those the specimens now on exhibition in the horticultural room of 

 the Institute, that the foreign grapeSy when raised under glass in 



