294 Priihable Cluirocters to be looked for in a Seedling Pear-tree, 



or cottony, without distinct reticulations, on the surface, there is 

 not much chance of the seedling; proving good. If the plumule, 

 on becoming a stem, is short jointed and forms wood buds of a 

 conical shape, at one foot above the soil, it is a good sign. If on 

 a grey-hazel, or pale greenish brown coloured bark, grey ash- 

 coloured specks are here and there visible, it is a still better sign- 

 If on the contrary, the seedling has a stem which does not bear 

 itself erect, and has distorted irregular branches at unequal dis- 

 tances, no confidence can be placed in it. These marks rarely occur 

 at the present time among seedlings raised from the more recently 

 improved varieties of the Pear. A smooth shining bark, soft to 

 the touch, of a brown, hazel, lead color, fawn, or reddish, the whole 

 sprinkled more or less closely with pale specks, or lenticular 

 glands, it is also considered to be a favorable indication ; so it is 

 likewise when the mature wood of the one-year-old shoots breaks 

 clean. It is not, however, in the first or second year that one can 

 judge of a seedling by its characters ; for these are more distinct- 

 ly marked in the second year after transplanting. The best time 

 for making camparative observations is at the fall of leaf. It will 

 then be seen that promising seedlings have leaves posessiug the 

 good characters above described, and a moderately thick stem, 

 furnished with large prominent well swelled wood-buds. 



It will also be observed that some of the seedlings have pro- 

 duced shoots forming wide angles, or are spreading ; others spui'S, 

 some slender fruit-bearing twigs ; others short spines on the stem 

 and on the branches, which are fui'nished with four or five promi- 

 nent wood buds. Two or three well formed leaves, and a large 

 plump terminal bud will be perceived at the extremity of each of 

 the slioots. A disposition to bear spines is, in general, the surest 

 sign of the beauty, delicacy, and long keeping of the fiuit. The 

 contrary opinion is generally maintained : but it can o\\\y be con- 

 sidered as an old fashioned prejudice. In fact, at the present day 

 it is generally admitted that fine, smooth, spineless wood betoken 

 a summer fruit. Wood with thick downy leaves is the sign either 

 of a musky summer pear, or of a winter stcAving pear. I know of 

 only one exception to what has been stated respecting downy 

 leaves, and that is those of that variety called the Comte de Flan, 

 dres ; but this variety, on the other hand, possesses all the other 

 characters of a good winter fruit. In this case it may be said there 



