304 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



For market, plant but few varieties; a large quantity of one variety 

 is much more valuable than a small quantity of several kinds. Very 

 early pears are not profitable; few varieties earlier than the Bartlett 

 make much profit. 



Clapp's Favorite may be planted to a limited extent as a summer 

 l^ear. It is a little larger than the Bartlett, is handsome in color, with 

 a blush over a yellow skin. The fruit must be picked promptly and 

 shipped as soon as it gets good size and color, as it decays at the core, 

 which makes it a difficult pear to handle in any large quantity. Dealers 

 do not like to handle this variety to any large extent, on account of 

 the uncertainty of its soundness. The tree is vigorous in growth, 

 while the fruit is good in quality, but not equal to the Bartlett. It 

 should be picked eight or ten days before it ripens. 



The Bartlett is the best pear, most universally grown and in greatest 

 demand. It is medium to large in size, yellow in color when ripe, and 

 is often covered with a handsome shade of delicate red on one side. 

 It is exceedingly juicy and of fine flavor; very desirable for canning. 

 The tree is a good grower. The Bartlett leads all varieties in demand. 



The Scckel represents the highest excellence in quality. It is a russet 

 and yellow, more or less covered with red when ripe. It is very fine 

 and delicate in its flesh, and exceedingly sweet and juicy. The fruit 

 is usually small in size. It always commands the highest price. 



The Bosc is a variety of high quality; the fruit is large in size, 

 russet in color, juicy and sweet, and finer than the Bartlett. The tree 

 is a poor grower, both in the nursery and in the orchard. It will 

 make a better tree by being top-worked on a stronger variety, like 

 the Anjou or Keiffer. This is done by setting buds of the Bosc upon 

 the stronger variety in August or September, or by grafting in the 

 spring. 



The Anjou is one of the most reliable market pears. The fruit is 

 large in size, greenish yellow in color when ripe, and is of fine flavor. 

 It may be kept in cold storage until after the holidays. The tree is 

 strong in growth and is large in size. On account of the large size 

 to which the Anjou tree grows, it is well to give it 20 feet space in one 

 direction and 30 in the other. The tree is slow in coming into bearing, 

 but when it does begin to produce, it is a regular annual bearer. 



The Winter Nelis is a late variety of high quality. The fruit is 

 green with a yellow tinge when ripe, and it is very juicy and sweet. 

 The tree is a slow grower and needs good soil. 



In a collection for home use the following would be desirable: for 

 summer, — Osband's Summer, Gifford, Margaret, Tyson, Wildcr's 

 Early; for autumn — Flemish Beauty (this should be thoroughly 

 sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, as it is subject to the pear scale; 

 it is excellent), Hardy; for winter — Sheldon, Worden, Seckel, Ver- 

 mont Beauty, Laurence, Winter Nelis. These are all of excellent 

 quality. 



