SECRETARY'S REPORT. 185 



seedlings from the third or fourth generation. And from all of 

 them we know how few he got which were really valuable. 



Whereas, those who have taken the other course in France 

 and in Belgium, have, with comparatively few efforts, raised 

 more standard varieties than were produced by Van Mons. I 

 inquired of Augustus Dana, who raised many as good pears as 

 the best of Van Mons'. He always took the best kind of fruit, 

 and the best specimens he could get. I asked him if he had 

 raised any considerable number, in order to get the seedlings 

 which he had put into the market, and he said he had not. I 

 raised about fifty seedling pear trees, about one-half of which 

 have fruited ; and out of that number — not more than twenty- 

 five trees — I have succeeded in getting five or six varieties that 

 will compare with the best varieties that ever Van Mons raised. 



Mr. Bull. — I want to say a word with regard to Van Mons' 

 theory. I think the remark of my friend from Worcester con- 

 firms Van Mons' theory. It is on record that Du Hamel did, 

 for fifty years, plant the seeds of the best pears, without getting 

 any that were not execrable. Van Moris took the wild pear 

 and infused vigor. Others grew seedlings from them, and 

 improvements took place. Possibly, hybridization had some 

 influence. And from those best pears brought to this country, 

 Mr. Dana had his success, and Mr. Earle had his. But since 

 you had no good grapes in this country, there was no alternative 

 but to take the native grape. Now, I ask if the success we have 

 met with in so short a time has not proved the theory of Van 

 Mons, that nature has laid up the vigor, and that men, by 

 cultivation, obtain the good qualities ? 



Our friend (Mr. Earle,) wants a better grape. I have seven- 

 teen grapes, every one of which is better than the Concord. I 

 don't think there is a seedling in this country from the choice 

 old pears that Van Mons experimented with. 



Mr. Earle. — I agree that we had no other but the native 

 grape to start from. But we now have those that have been 

 cultivated ; and I say, take seedlings from the best we have, 

 bring them to the highest point that you can, and from these 

 you can take seeds and improve still further. But do not go 

 back. 



Mr. Perkins. — In my observations, two years ago, as I was on 

 a committee for visiting farms in Berkshire County, I will say 



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