114 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fruit in form and size, and a true " chip of the old block" in 

 texture, was as beautifully colored as a bright " red rose." A. 

 Marie Louise seedling, not very unlike a medium Virgalien in 

 form, sice and color, was a pleasant sweet pear and remarkably 

 productive, its bearing branches hanging like those of a weeping 

 willow, quite down to the ground ; apt to rot at the core. A 

 Dix seedling retained much of the form and size of the parent, 

 but took on a yellow color at maturity and was wanting in 

 flavor. A Summer Franc Real seedling much resembled the 

 Dearborn in form, size and color, (except that it was specked 

 with red as beautifully as any trout,) and had a distinct Bartlett 

 flavor. A Washington seedling had nearly the form and size of 

 the Bartlett, with a dull bronze-yellow skin, and by its flavor 

 reminded one of Stoughton's bitters or some kindred article. 

 A Beurre d'Anjou seedling, by its form and size, reminded one 

 of the old English " bull's eye " watch, and, by its texture, of 

 India rubber, and kept so well that it never got ripe. Of two 

 Onondaga seedlings, one resembled Urbaniste in form, size and 

 color, and ripened in October ; the other was of a peculiar oval 

 form, a uniform dark-bronze russet color, and a winter fruit — 

 quality not yet tested. Of several Virgalien seedlings, all vary- 

 ing widely from each other, the most noticeable was a light-rus- 

 set pear, about the size and shape of Rostiezer, an excellent 

 keeper, of good flavor, and promising to be of value. Of sev- 

 eral Seckel seedlings, most of which bore a nearer or more re- 

 mote resemblance to the parent, the only one of particular 

 promise was that described in Downing as Foote's Seckel — a 

 pear somewhat larger than the parent, shaped much like a 

 Gansel's Bergamot, more handsomely colored than the original, 

 and somewhat more vinous in its flavor, which, in the opinion 

 of some, gives it a superior value. This and a Beurrd 

 d' Aremberg seedling of much promise, were regarded as his 

 greatest successes. 



In regard to the general subject of fruit-culture, information 

 was so abundant and so accessible at the present day, concerning 

 all its important details, that he did not deem it necessary to 

 add much, if anything, in that direction. He would, however, 

 avail himself of the occasion to enter his protest against the 

 utter recklessness with which many, he might perhaps say most 

 men, rush into the business of setting out pear and apple orch- 



