FRUITS. 139 



become more critical and exacting. No one pear, unless it be 

 the Seckel, is universally pronounced best ; a kind that one per- 

 son esteems the best, another may think lacking in aroma, or a 

 little astringent ; too sweet or too acid, too musky, dry or in- 

 sipid. Much of the disagreement of tastes is probably caused 

 by diiferent modes of cultivation ; for a pear double-worked on 

 a good variety, whether it be on pear or quince, will much excel, 

 in desirable qualities, one that is only single-worked on pear or 

 quince. The number of contributions were three hundred and 

 forty-eight plates, embracing about one hundred established 

 varieties. There were twenty-five plates of Duchesse d'Angoul- 

 eme ; twenty-two Seckels ; twenty-one Bartletts ; sixteen Louise 

 Bonne de Jersey ; thirteen each Winter Nelis and Vicar of Wink- 

 field ; eleven Lawrence ; ten Bicknell ; nine Urbaniste ; eight 

 Beurre d'Anjou. This exhibit indicates the varieties that are 

 most generally cultivated in this vicinity. There may be other 

 varieties that will, in time not far distant, become favorites to 

 the neglect of some of these. 



The severe and long continued drought of summer, obviously 

 tended to lessen the size of pears generally ; but the Bicknell 

 was an exception ; it has rarely done better in regard to quality. 

 The Vicar on the contrary suffered much, its average size being 

 greatly inferior to what it has been in favorable seasons. The 

 keeping quality of the Bartlett, judging from the unusual num- 

 ber of specimens offered, was improved by the dryness of the 

 season, although its average size was below that of some former 

 years. 



The ripening of several varieties has been variously affected ; 

 the Winter Nelis and Vicar ripen in November instead of Janu- 

 ary and February ; the Duchesse, a November pear, promises to 

 be good for December. 



The Mount Vernon, by Mrs. C. B. Leavitt, a native variety, 

 said to possess desirable qualities, was not received in season to 

 compete for premium. 



Althougli less than one-eighth of the established varieties 

 were offered for competition, enough were presented to demon- 

 strate the fact that much interest is awakened on the subject of 

 pear culture, and that tliere is a prevalent desire to be possessed 

 of the very best varieties. 



If to the leading varieties exhibited be added the Bloodgood, 



