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1 prune any time. When I see a limlj growing out of 

 shape I clip it, without regard to the season of the year. 

 My trees have been troubled with fire blight ; several trees 

 have been killed and others injured. I always have noticed 

 that the fastest growing trees are the ones most affected. 

 The blight was noticed in mid-summer by the limbs and leaves 

 turning black, just as if fire had struck them. I cut off the 

 parts affected. 



I believe that Standards are generally the most profitable 

 pear trees to set out, with exception ef the Duchesse, Louise 

 Bonne, Vicar, and perhaps some others, which do better I 

 think on Dwarf trees — bearing better fruit. Standards with 

 room enough will last longer and be the most profitable for 

 most varieties. 



I recommend for profit the Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jer- 

 sey, Sheldon, Beurre d'Anjou, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Belle 

 Lucrative, Vicar of Winkfield, and Lawrence, because they 

 are well known in the market. 



Very respectfully yours, 



John W. Marshall. 



reply of peter waite, of danvers. 



I exhibited 34 varieties, but I will name only a few of 

 them ; of course all the common varieties, such as Bartlett, 

 Belle Lucrative, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Paradise d'Au- 

 tome, Beurre Bosc, Marie Louise, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre 

 d'Anjou, Howell, Sheldon, and others. I also had some new 

 varieties, which I think should have more notice, and their 

 culture encouraged by premiums instead of some of the 

 worthless kinds now on the list, such as the Buflum, Rostie- 

 zer and Doyenne d'Ete, which are not worthy of cultivation. 

 I would recommend in their place the Pratt, Doyenne de Co- 

 mice and Beurre Hardy. Of this last variety I had a dish of 

 25 specimens, which I think no dish of pears in the Show ex- 

 celled. I did not exhibit so many varieties because of their 

 excellence, but to show the contrast between the poor and 



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