150 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



chief argument in favor of dwarfing pears on the quince stock, 

 is the early and immediate fruitfulness of the tree ; but most of 

 our choice kinds — the Bartlett, Flemish Beauty and Rostiezer — 

 bear too young for the good of the tree, and at this very hour 

 fears are entertained that the Bartlett will soon fail and become 

 extinct, because the bearing trees begin to show signs of decay ; 

 but the tree has been allowed to bear fruit too young, and this 

 is the chief cause of its decay. The Beurr^ Bosc, a slow grower, 

 and does not come to fruit till the tree is ten or twelve years 

 old, is in full vigor, and promises to be a long-lived tree, and 

 one of the most approved kinds. Your Committee, therefore, 

 would recommend the following kinds of pears to be grown 

 always as standards : " First, summer pears — Beurr^ Gififard, 

 Rostiezer, Dearborn's Seedling and Clapp's Favorite. Second, 

 autumn pears — Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Marie Louise, Beurr^ 

 Bosc and d'Anjou, Sheldon, Seckel, Louise Bonne de Jersey and 

 Bufifum. Third, winter pears — Winter Nelis, Lawrence and 

 Vicar of Winkfield. When the above kinds are well cultivated, 

 any man will be abundantly rewarded with a rich supply of this 

 invaluable fruit. Joshua Poeter, Chairman. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Pears and Grapes. — The apple, which was formerly looked 

 upon principally as a luxury, has become one of the indispen- 

 sable comforts, if not indeed almost a necessity, of healthful ex- 

 istence. The pear and the grape have now taken the position 

 that the apple once had as a luxury, and are fast approaching a 

 position among the comforts of life that we can ill afford to be 

 without. 



This change in their relations brings with it a corresponding 

 change in the manner of cultivation. Where formerly an 

 almost bewildering number of varieties were coddled and nursed 

 as pets, and coaxed to dole out a few specimens for our en- 

 couragement, we now devote our labors in such a way as to 

 secure in much larger quantity, a product, which, without any 

 material sacrifice in quality, can yet be afforded at a price which 

 promises eventually to bring it within the means of the great 

 body of the people. 



