89 



they are dear at any price. Procure your trees of some re- 

 sponsible nursery-man, and if possible go and select the 

 trees yourself and see them properly dug and packed. Hav- 

 ing your ground thoroughly prej^ared, all mutilated roots 

 should be smoothly cut, and you 'should see to it that the 

 trees are properly set and the soil well packed about the roots. 

 Then set a stake and secure your tree properly to it. Have 

 the tops thinned out and cut back two-thirds of last year's 

 growth, and then give good clean cultivation and an annual 

 trimming and dressing. 



J. Henry Hill. 



Thinking that the recommendations of Hon. Marshall P. 

 Wilder, President of the American Pomological Society, a 

 gentleman who, although four score of years has passed over 

 his head, has not wearied in imparting information in the di- 

 rection Avhich has been a specialty with him for many years, 

 I addressed him a request, if not trespassing upon his valu- 

 able time, to give, for the benefit of our County Society, a 

 list of the ten varieties of pears which, from his mature ex- 

 perience in pear culture, he considered the best for profitable 

 culture, which elicited the following reply, too late to be for- 

 warded with the Report of the Committee, but will make a 

 valuable annex, and is submitted for that purpose. 



D. W. Low, Chairman. 



REPLY OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



Boston, Dec. 2, 1878. 



Dear Sir: — The following list of pears comprises an ex- 

 cellent collection. They are all healthy trees, and the fruit 

 is good, either for the table or market, in their season. 

 Clapp's Favorite, Bartlett, Doyenne Boussouck, Paradise 

 d'Automne, Merriam, Sheldon, Beurre Bosc, Lawrence, 

 Beurre d'Anjou, Vicar of Winkfield, for baking, tine speci- 

 mens are also good for dessert. 



Clapp's Favorite, the best early large pear, should be 

 gathered by 20th of August. 



Doyenne Boussouck, splendid healthy tree, very produc- 



