286 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Di 



THE DE PEAK. 



This ia undoubtedly one of the finest of American 

 pears, combining large size, beauty of form and color, 

 with excellent quality. The tree is hardy, erect, and 

 thrifty, and bears abundantly. Mr. Walker, now 

 President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

 once said, in noticing it in Hovey's Magazine, that 

 the time would come when it would be as popular 

 and as well known as the Barlhtt ; and we are in- 

 clined to believe that he was nearly right. All agree 

 in saying that it is long in coming into bearing. — ~ 

 This is somewhat of a drawback ; for few people have 

 patience to wait ten or twelve years for a tree to bear. 

 This peculiarity is till more objectionable, as it does 

 not succeed on the quince. But wo find that it suc- 

 ceeds when double worked on it. In 1848 we grafted 

 it on a Jargonelle on quince, and this year it produced 

 a fine crop of large, handsome, and fine flavored fruit. 

 So here is a way to fruit the DLt in a very short time. 

 Get a good tree of some sort that grows freely on the 

 quince, such as Duchcsse it Angoxdcme, Beiiurc Did, 

 Jargonelle, &c., and graft the Dix into it, and you 

 will have it in two, or three years at most, instead of 

 ten or twelve — a great gain, surely. 



Mr. CoLB, in his fruit book, says it is "one of the 



moet splendid and excellent of all pears, when 

 perfect, selling at the enormous price of two dol- 

 lars per dozen, and one tree produced $47 worth 

 at one crop ; yet one of the most uncertain of 

 all pears. In light soils it usually cracks and 

 blasts, and often on strong, moist soils." Mr. 

 DoWiMNG pronounces it " a fruit of the highest 

 excellen;e.'' Mr. Tkomas says it is "one of 

 the most valuable of autumn pears." Mr. Hovkt 

 gives a colored drawing and an account of it in 

 his " Fruits of America,"' No. 9, recently pub- 

 lished. He says : 



"Few, if any, of our native pears hold a 

 higher rank tlian the Dijc. The large size, beau- 

 tiful appearance, and exquisite fiavor of its fruit, 

 added to the vigor and hardine-ss of the tree, its 

 productiveness, constant bearing, and period 

 of maturity, give it a combination of qualities 

 which but few varieties possess. When origi- 

 nally brought into notice, in 18-.29, it was pro- 

 nounced 'one of the very best autumn pears, 

 which might, with the greatest safety, be intro- 

 duced into our gardens ;' and twenty years ex- 

 perience has fully confirmed the correctness of 

 that opinion. The Z)iJ originated in Boston, in 

 the garden of Madam Dix, in compliment to 

 whom it was named, about thirty-five years ago. 

 The tree sprung from seed, near the house, and 

 grew so rapidly, that in 1829 it had attained 

 the height of twenty-three feet, with a stem ten 

 inches in diameter. It still stands in the same 

 spot, and has now become a very large tree. 

 It first began to bear in 1825, but did not pro- 

 duce a full crop till 1829, since which time it 

 has continued to bear abundant crops of fine 

 fruit. The Dix is very late in coming into bear- 

 ing, and, on this account, cultivators have often 

 rejected it in making a selection of fine pears. 

 The average period of its fruiting is eight or ten 

 years, occasionally in four or five, but oftener 

 twelve and upwards. It has, however, the good 

 quality of constant bearing after it has obtained 

 a fruiting state, and the pears ripen oif as fully 

 as the Baldivin apple. It does not succeed upon 

 the quince unless double worked." 



It is large, oblong pyriform, of a greenish yellow 

 color, slightly russetted, and occasionally a slight 

 tinge of red. Flesh rich, melting, and juicy. The 

 tree is quite remarkable for its slender, erect growth, 

 yellowish bark, and light foliage. Like the Summer 

 Francreal, Glont Morceav, and some otliers, it has 

 such a distinctness of appearance as not to be con- 

 founded with any other. We do not recommend it 

 for extensive culture, but as eminently worthy of a 

 place among every choice collection. 



Bureau of ARcmTEcruRE. — Since Mr. Downing's 



return from Europe, he has establislied a "Bureau of 

 Architecture" at his residence, imd proposes to give 

 it special attention. He will furnish plans of build- 

 ings of all sorts, dwellings, churches, horticultural 

 buildings, &c., in the various styles best adapted to 

 this country. He will also furnish sketches and plans 

 for laying out the grounds of country residences. — 

 Such a "bureau" is greatly wanted in this country, 

 at the present moment, and Mr. Downing, from the 

 attention he has given the^e subjects, is undoubtedly 

 the most competent man in America to preside over 

 it. Persons wishing information in regard to the 

 matter, can procure his circulars by applying to him. 



