69 



ards ; we don't get the fruit so quick, but they have a longer 

 life, aud just as sure to bear a crop as the Dwarf. 



I pick my pears as soon as they get their growth and begin 

 to turn yellow. They ripen in from two to four weeks. I 

 have never tried how to keep them best and longest. 



I cannot recommend varieties for profit, as I do not con- 

 sider myself a competent judge. I do not raise them for 

 market. I go more for quality than quantity. I am aware 

 that the Flemish Beauty has the reputation of cracking badly, 

 but mine has never had but very few cracked, and that very 

 seldom. They are of the finest quality, and the richest pear 

 that I have in a variety of ten or twelve kinds. 



M. B. I^NNEY, M. D. 



Lawrence, Oct. 24, 1878. 



In reply to inquiries for more particulars on certain points, 

 Dr. Kenney kindly furnished the following : — 



"When I set out the trees, about sixteen years ago, I had 

 a hole dug about four feet in diameter aud two and a half 

 feet deep, then tilled in about one foot of compost, bones, 

 old shoes, lime, and old scraps of iron, then covered that 

 with about six inches of soil, then set my trees and filled in 

 with rich soil, such as is all around Lawrence and everywhere 

 in these parts the coiiinion soil. I cannot tell its component 

 parts, as I am not skilled in that science. The sub-soil is 

 gravelly. All my trees do produce the same good quality, 

 according to their kinds, as those exhibited. / do not thin 

 out the fruit when young, but probably it would do better to 

 do so on trees that start very full of young fruit. I have no 

 doubt that the fruit would be larger. In addition to putting 

 on the sink manure every two or three years, I also put on 

 the ground over the roots, not very near the body, about a 

 pint of iron turnings or filings, with about half pint of salt 

 around each tree every four or five years. In regard to the 

 protection from severe cold, my garden is surrounded on all 

 sides, except the east, by buildings, which of course does 

 protect them very much from the cold and winds, and very 

 probably that helps much to produce good fruit. 



This answers all your questions as near as I can ; and if 



