322 Hardiness in Pears. 



down to ten degrees below zero at this place. This was a lower point than 

 had been reached at any time in winter for eight years, at least with one 

 exception ; and this terrible close of an autumn quite favorable to late 

 wood-growth tried most severely the hardiness of all young, fast-growing 

 trees. The result in my own orchard, among a hundred and fifty varieties, 

 all young trees, shows about forty kinds which seem perfectly hardy ; nearly 

 an equal number so tender as to be killed outright, or fatally damaged ; 

 while the balance exhibit various degrees of injury, but promise to recover. 



Thinking that lists of these classes may be indications of some value to 

 other planters, I herewith give the results, with some of the more important 

 varieties. These trees had mostly been three years planted, in good clay 

 loam without any manure, and had been well but not excessively cultivated. 

 Among those which successfully endured this trial were Tyson, Ott, Belle 

 Lucrative, Howell, Kingsessing, Clapp's Favorite, Moyamensing, Doyenne 

 Boussock, White Doyenne, Onondaga, Stevens's Genesee, Lodge, Parson- 

 age, Merriam, Heathcote, Flemish Beauty, Urbaniste, Beurre d'Anjou, Shel- 

 don, Di.x, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Lawrence, McLaughlin, Glout Morceau, 

 Vicar, and Easter Beurre. 



Of those badly injured I will name Doyenne d'Etc, Golden Beurre, Ju- 

 lienne, Seckel, Beurre Bosc, Paradise d'Automne, Marie Louise, Forelle, 

 Baronne de Mello, Canandaigua, Zoar Beauty, Jaminette, Chaptal, Catillac, 

 Beurre Clairgeau, and Winter Nelis. 



Between the last two classes, I find the following important kinds : Bart- 

 lett, Brandywine, Ananas d'Ete, Beurre Giff"ard, Bloodgood, Osband's Sum- 

 mer, Kirtland, Beurre Superfin, Buffum, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Napoleon, 

 Beurre Langelier, Beurre Gris, Columbia, Epine Dumas, Josephine de Ma- 

 lines, and Dana's Hovey. I am aware that some varieties named above 

 as tender, or badly injured, were not seriously damaged at other points in 

 this neighborhood, where they had not been much cultivated, or were in 

 bearing, or from any cause had made very little growth the previous season ; 

 but I think planters will be wise to rely mainly upon kinds which endure 

 our climate under the most trying conditions. 



April 25, 1869. 



