80 



ards will grow and thrive on most soils in Essex County^ 

 Dwarfs require a very deep and rich soil, and high cultivation, 

 to make them thrive well, with more attention on the part of 

 the cultivator. 



As regards picking, ripening and keeping, I usually gather 

 early summer and early fall varieties from one to two weeks 

 before maturity, late fall and winter varieties the last of Sep- 

 tember or first of October ; the early kinds ripening from one 

 to live weeks after picking, according to variety. The late 

 fall and winter varieties I can give no definite time. I keep 

 them in small, tight boxes placed in the coolest part of my 

 room or cellar. 



Ten varieties recommended for pirofit, are ; — Clapp's Favor- 

 ite, Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Buflum, Sheldon, On-' 

 ondaga, Urbaniste, Beurre d'Anjou, Duchesse d'Angouleme, 

 and Vicar of Winkfield, because that of some thirty or more 

 varieties that I cultivate, the ten above named varieties grow 

 more pears on the same number of trees, are salable in the 

 market, and command, usually, remunerative prices. 



I am just recovering from a fever, and am so feeble that I 

 can hardly write a legible hand, or give much information in 

 regard to pear culture, &Ci 



Respectfully yours, 



John Preston. 

 Georgetown, Oct. 27, 1878. 



IIEPLY OF JOHN W. MARSHALL, OF KOCKPORT. 



I exhibited, at the County Fair, Sheldon pears and Beurre 

 d'Anjou, grown on Standard trees, in what was a swamp, 

 having been filled in with a foot of loamy gravel ; the soil 

 under the swamp foundation is clay. The soil is enriched 

 every year with barn manure and compost, a good liberal 

 dressing. I have a pen in which house ofRil, leaves, &e., are 

 put, with an occasional throwing on of soil, to prevent its 

 becoming offensive, making with my small family and garden 

 about a cord and a half of very rich compost; 



