THE 



Canadian Horticulturist 



Vol XVI. 



1893 



No. 2. 





THE SHELDON PEAR. 



']HIS pear is an American seedling, and is a variety well deserving 

 of prominent notice in the pages of this journal. It was propa- 

 gated accidentally, on the farm of Norman Sheldon, in the town 

 of Huron, Wayne County, N. Y., and has borne several synonyms, 

 as, for instance, Huron, and Wayne, from the places above men- 

 tioned : but, properly enough, the name Sheldon prevailed, as 

 being the name of the originator. 



With regard to its adaptability to the climate of Ontario, our 

 reports show that it is perfectly hardy in the Counties of Lincoln, 

 Brant, Essex, Kent, and even Huron, along the borders of the 

 lake, but in the County of York it is not considered quite hardy. The con- 

 clusion, therefore, to be drawn is that this pear is not suitable for planting north 

 of Toronto, except under some particularly favorable circumstances. 



The pear ripens in October and November ; but it must be gathered in 

 good time, or a large portion of the crop will need to be gathered from the 

 ground ; and it must be used just at the hour it becomes mellow, or it will be 

 found too far gone for use. In this respect it bears a worse character than even 

 the Bartlett. We esteem its quality very highly ; and a writer in the Country 

 Gentleman says that he thinks that, when well grown and properly ripened, it 

 excels all other pears in deliciousness of quality. It is as melting as ice cream, 

 and its flavor is superb. The pear, however, is variable in quality and sometimes, 

 when badly grown and poorly ripened, might be called poor. As a market pear 



