r 36 What Pears shall I plant ? 



WHAT PEARS SHALL I PLANT? 



This question has been asked so often, that we are led to answer it for 

 the benefit of that numerous class of our readers who have not the time 

 or opportunity to test all the varieties in the nursery-man's catalogue, and 

 wish to plant only those that are known to be good. It will be our en- 

 deavor to give a list sufficiently large to cover all the time from early to 

 late, so that, from twenty or more trees, one may have the luxury of pears 

 within his reach from July until the next April, and, with the aid of a fruit- 

 house, possibly the year round, if it should be deemed desirable. We give 

 a brief description of each variety that we recommend ; for it often hap- 

 pens that though a pear may be very good, yet it might not suit some, and 

 would not be planted by them if they knew the exact flavor of the fruit. 

 It is more than possible that some of our readers may object to some 

 variety we may name in this article, because it may not have succeeded so 

 well in their particular locality as some other pear of the same season 

 which has been tested by them. No list can be given that will be likely to 

 prove the best all over the country from East to West, any more than a list 

 of grapes could be named which would be perfectly well adapted to every 

 State in the Union. 



The list we give is one for home-use mostly, though it includes some 

 of the most popular market-varieties. To those who say that the list 

 should be extended to fifty or more varieties, so that the grower may 

 obtain as wide a range of flavors as possible, we make answer, that a 

 novice is as well off" with twenty of the best for home-use, or five or six 

 for market-purposes, as he would be with more. The pomologist who 

 wishes to trj' all, that he may become fully acquainted with their merits, 

 will not be content with one or two hundred sorts, but will possibly number 

 iiis varieties by thousands. We give a list for standard trees only. 



The Madeleine is one of the very earliest pears, ripening the latter 

 part of July. It is of second-rate quality, but desirable on account of its 

 season ; and, for this reason, deserves a place in every collection. The tree 

 is a very vigorous, erect grower, though not very symmetrical in shape. 

 The fruit is rather below medium size, obovate, with a long, slender, cur\'ed 



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