Pear-Culture. 43 



rather below size, is very handsome, and of fair quality ; while the tree is a 

 most excellent grower and bearer. One well-known pomologist declares 

 it to be a very profitable market-variety. It does best in a light soil. Then 

 comes the Bartlett, so universally known, attracting the attention of every 

 one by its good size, and rich golden color ; even the windfalls and thin- 

 nings ripening up so as at least to be salable, if not good. The tree is a 

 good grower when young ; a great bearer ; the fruit of large size, and good 

 quality ; and, taken all in all, probably the most popular variety grown in 

 this country. The public show their good taste by adopting this pear as a 

 favorite, though it is not of the very best quality. The Louise Bonne de Jer- 

 sey is much in demand in the market ; and though it is in some localities 

 less popular than formerly, yet it stands well as a salable variety. It does 

 much better on quince, giving superior fruit. The Doyenne Boussock may 

 safely be put down as an excellent market-pear ; large size, handsome, and 

 quite eatable. It is a profitable sort, and worthy the attention of fruit- 

 growers. The Andrews has been raised to considerable extent ; but as it 

 comes in about the same time with the Bartlett, and is not as attractive in 

 appearance, it will never become extensively popular. The Golden Beurre 

 of Bilboa takes a fair rank among this class of pears : the fruit is gene- 

 rally fair and handsome, but comes too near the time of the Bartlett to be 

 grown extensively. Soon after will follow the Merriam, a native fruit, and 

 a prodigious bearer ; a variety that sells well on the fruit-stands at the cor- 

 ners of the streets. The Sterling, which comes a little earlier, is also re- 

 garded as a good fruit for the market, because of its beauty, size, and 

 " fairish " quality. 



And then, as we come down to the fruit of October, there is Swan's Or- 

 ange, too acid for some, yet quite desirable on account of its fine size, 

 productiveness, beauty of fruit, and vigor of tree. Then comes Beurre 

 d'Anjou, good in every respect, — good bearer, good size, fair, and nearly 

 first-rate in quality. It has been said by a well-known pear-grower, that, if 

 he were to plant a thousand trees, they should all be of this deservedly 

 popular sort. It rots just right ; for it gives you due notice by commencing 

 on the outside, unlike many pears of fair exterior. It is true that it 

 has the fault of blowing off badly, which is a serious drawback in exposed 

 locations. It does equally well on quince or pear stock, and is destined 



