64 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



THE TYSON PEAR. 



Last summer we saw a fine tree, and finely loaded 

 •with fruit, of this excellent variety of the pear, in 

 the garden of His Excellency Gov. Gardner, at 

 Dorchester. Later in the season we were furnished 

 with an ample basket of the ripened fruit, which we 

 found delicious, and from one among the number we 

 have had the illustration here given sketched. 



This pear is not large, perhaps a little below me- 

 dium size; it has the striking pear form, is light 

 yellow, with russet patches, and reddish in the sun. 

 Stem medial length and set on apr'nt ; basin broad 

 and shallow ; flesh white, melting, very juicy, sweet, 

 with a delicious aromatic flavor. It is fit for eating 

 in the latter part of August or first of September. 

 By most amateurs it is not ranked high among the 

 good pears, but is worthy a place in any considera- 

 ble garden. The original tree stood in Jenkinstown, 

 Pa., and the tree on which the fruil gi-ew of which 

 we have been spealdng, we have understood to have 

 sprung from the first scion, cut from the old tree, 

 which was set in this State. 



When to Weak India Rubbers. — We have, 

 noticed that many persons in our city wear india 

 rubber overshoes in cold, dry weather, to keep their 

 feet warm. This is an injurious and evil practice. 



India rubber shoes are very comfortable and valua- 

 ble for covering the feet during Met, sloppy weath- 

 er, but they should never be worn on any other oc- 

 casion ; their sole use should be to keep out water. 

 They should therefore be put off" whenever the wear- 

 er enters a house, and be worn as httle as possible, 

 because they are air tight, and both retain and re- 

 strain the perspiration of the feet. The air cannot 

 be excluded from them, or from any other portion 

 of the body, for any length of time, without sensi- 

 bly affecting the health. It is our opinion, that no 

 habit tends more to good health than clean feet and 

 clean, dry stockings, so as to allow the free perspi- 

 ration of the nether extremities. 



Curiosities of Water. — Nor is the hailstone 

 less soluble in earth than in air. Placed under a 

 bell glass with tA\-ice its weight of lime, it gradually 

 melts and disappears ; and there remain four parts, 

 instead of three, of perfectly dry earth under the 

 glass. Of a plaster of Paris statue, weighing five 

 pounds, more than one good pound is solidified wa- 

 ter. Even the precious opal is but a mass of flint 

 and water, combined in the proportion of nine 

 grains of the earthy ingredient to one of the fluid. 

 Of an acre of clay land a foot deep, weighing about 

 one thousand two hundred tons, at least four hun- 

 dred tons are water ; and, even of the great moun- 

 tain chains with which the globe is ribbed, many 

 milHons of tons are water solidified into earth. 



