74 



NEW ENGLAxND FARMER. 



thought it was unsurpassable. Mr. Ilovey thought 

 it was firi»t rate. Mr. Downing, one of the commit- 

 tee, had never seen it first rate. Different raembers 

 expressed variotis views of this frxiit, but gcuevally 

 they were favorable. 



Duffiun. — First rate by one- of the committee, 

 second rate by t^c other two. Different views were 

 expressed concerning this fruit. As the Buffum is a 

 native of New England, and generally good and 

 salable, it is one of the best pears for orchard cul- 

 ture in this section ; and it wiU doubtless do much 

 better farther north than foreign varieties. 



Long Green — second rate. — Mr. Ilovey said that he 

 considered it first rate, but not among the very best. 

 Mr. Allen, of Oswego, said that it was good, but not 

 always first rate. 



JuUe7tne — second rate. — Some speakers remarked 

 that sometimes, but rarely, it was nearly first rate. 



Frederick of Wertemlnirg — second rate. — Several 

 speakers made remarks on this, showing that it varied 

 from second rate, and sometimes almost first rate, to 

 worthless. 



Fullon. — First rate by two of the committee, 

 second rate by one. Mr. Barry considered it first rate 

 and it did well in the eastern and northern regions 

 of the country. Mr. Hovey considered it nearly first 

 rate. We have no doubt that for the north this pear 

 is one of the most valuable varieties, as it originated 

 in Maine. 



Passe Colmar — second rate Several members of 



the convention spoke highly of this pear, and ranked 

 it as first rate, when carefully ripened. Others 

 regarded it as variable. 



Bcurre Did — nearly always first rate. — In New 

 England, this pear is very uncertain. In warm sea- 

 sons it succeeds well in favorable locations, and is 

 very fine. 



Beurre d'Anialis — second rate. 



Dix — first rate. — We are astonished in finding this 

 pear highly commended by the convention, and yet 

 nothing said of its great liability to crack, which it 

 does in most cases. 



Easter Beitrre — second rate. — Mr. Hovey remarked 

 that if it was well grown and properly ripened, it 

 was the best winter pear. Others spoke unfavorably 

 of it. Mr. Barry said that it was one of the best of 

 poars on the quince, but not first rate on the pear 

 stock. 



Bleeckcr's Meadow — second rate. — Somo speakers 

 thought it was only second or third rate. As this 

 pear is one of the greatest of growers, an early and 

 abundant bearer, and one of the very finest pears for 

 cooking, this valuable quality should have been con- 

 sidered. 



Beiirrc Bosc. — Dr. Wendell said that it was first 

 rate in every respect. We regard this as one of the 

 very best pears in quality ; but as it is a moderate 

 grower, and a poor or moderate bearer, it is not prof- 

 itable for the market. 



This report is embellished with a frontispiece of 

 the Kirtland pear, a seedling from Prof. J. V. Kirt- 

 land, Cleveland, Ohio. It is of a medial or rather 

 small size ; form roundish-ovate ; of a rich crimson 



russet, Tarying to dull green ; flesh of a fine texture, 

 melting, rich, juicy ; flavor sweet, aromatic, and de- 

 licious. Ripe in September. This seedling was 

 raised by II. T. Kirtland, from seeds of the Seckel, 

 presented by his brother. Prof. J. P. K. It is said 

 to excel the Seckel in hardiness and pvoductivenoss, 

 and some consider it superior in quality. 



Smith's Ch'hans — first rate, 



Diianc's Puiyjle — second rate. 



Laicrence's Favorite — first rate. 



Long Scarlet — second rate, but fine for cooking. 



Lucomb's Nonsuch — nearly first rate Mr. David 



Thomas counted it second rate. Mr. Ilovey con- 

 sidered it as good in flavor for eating as Smith's 

 Orleans. It was said not to be a good bearer, and 

 rotted on the tree. Mr. Saul, of Newburg, said 

 that the specimens presented were not fair ones; the 

 plum was first rate as to its eating qualities. It was 

 a large fruit, and a good though not profuse bearer, 

 and good grower. 



The convention did not discuss the merits of other 

 fruits. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



[Continued from p. 58.] 



Feb. 13th, at the agricultural meeting, the discus- 

 sion of this subject was continued ; but as a large 

 part of the time was taken up with a controversy in 

 regard to a report, there was but little said on the 

 subject. 



ISIajor Wheeler, of Framingham, spoke in favor of 

 raising more apples, as this was an e.xcellent fruit, 

 and we had the finest climate in the world for it. He 

 preferred setting large trees. 



Captain George Pierce, of West Cambridge, said that 

 the peach-tree borer would stand scalding-hot water, 

 and he thought that they would stand lye also ; but 

 bj' making a basin around the tree, and pouring in 

 six quarts of hot water, he generally destroyed them. 

 He advocated the high culture of fruit trees, aid 

 raising no crops among them after they were large. 

 From four apples-trees set in 1839, ho gathered last 

 season twenty-nine barrels of choice fruit, twenty 

 barrels of which he sold for $100. He had sold 

 $997 worth of fruit, the past season, from eight acres 

 of land. He depended on good culture, rather than 

 washes, to keep his trees in good condition. He said 

 that it was a disadvantage to have the limbs of 

 fruit trees come out high, and leave naked trunks 

 exposed to the hot sun. As to trimming high to 

 have the limbs above the reach of cattle, animals 

 should never be allowed to go among trees. 



Mr. French, of Braintree, said that, although he had 

 succeeded tolerably well with trees in grass in some 

 ctises, where the land was in high condition, yet he 

 thought that the land among the trees should be 

 well cultivated. Many set trees too low in the soil. 

 He advised setting near the surface, and the roots 

 will run as low as Is necessary. 



