20 



Barry has so aptly expressed my own opinion, that I use his 

 language : " The process of ripening on the tree, which is the 

 natural one, seems to act upon the fruit for the benefit of the 

 seed, as it tends to the formation of woody fibre and farina. 

 When the fruit is removed from the tree, at tlie commence- 

 ment of ripening, and placed in a still atmospliere, the nat- 

 ural process seems to be counteracted ; and sugar and juice 

 are elaborated instead of fibre and farina." Thus pears 

 which become mealy, and rot at the core, if left on the tree 

 to ripen, are juicy, melting, and delicious when ripened in the 

 house. In regard to the use of ice, I would say, that, where 

 fruits are kept for some months under its influence at a low 

 temperature, they seem to lose much of their flavor : the 

 cellular tissue also seems to have become dry, and to have lost 

 its vitalitv, or power to resume the ripening process. Expe- 

 rience proves, that, for the common varieties of the pear, about 

 forty degrees of Fahrenheit is the temperature best suited to 

 hold this process in equilibrium. Tlie proper maturing of 

 fruit thus preserved demands skill and science. Different 

 varieties require different degrees of moisture and lieat accord- 

 ing to the firmness of the skin, the texture of the flesh, 

 and the natural activity of the juices. Thus some varieties 

 of tiie pear will ripen at a low temperature and in a com- 

 paratively dry atmosphere, wjiile others are improved b}^ a 

 warm and humid air. Some varieties of the pear ripening 

 with difficulty, .and formerly esteemed only second-rate, are 

 now pronounced of excellent quality, because the art of 

 maturing them is better understood. Great improvement 

 has taken place in the handling, packing, and preservation of 

 fruits ; so that they are delivered in perfect condition from 

 distant places, ever}' class of fruit having its suitable style of 

 package. This remark also applies to the packing of trees 

 for foreign countries ; so that trees shipped b}' Ellwauger & 

 Barry, Rochester, N.Y., to Australia, after one hundred and 

 fifty-three daj-s, arrived in good condition. So well is the art 

 of keeping grapes now understood, that we have the Concord 

 from Fitchburg and other towns in that vicinity, and from 

 New Hampshire, in such fine order as to command twenty- 

 five cents per pound in December and January. 



The pear-tree blight has been more prevalent in several 

 localities around Boston, for the last two years, than ever 



