INFLUENCE OF SOIL AND STOCK. 27 



for several years, and caused me to wonder how 

 any thing so insipid could have passed through the 

 hands of Robert Manning. Yet that eminent and 

 worthy pomologist was not to blame. An acciden- 

 tal improvement of its condition, caused it the last 

 season to bear excellent fruit, increased some in 

 size, but immensely in flavor. 



"It would seem that flavor is the last touch of 

 perfection that some pears receive ; and that if the 

 nourishment of the tree be exhausted with their 

 growth, so that nothing is left for the last finish, 

 they are tasteless and worthless. This is not the 

 case however with all sorts of fruit ; and exceptions 

 may be found in the Madeleine, Summer Bon 

 Chretien, Seckel, and Virgalieu ; but I think we 

 have no right to condemn any variety of the pear, 

 until the tree has done its best that is, borne fruit 

 in a thriving condition."* 



Pruning is also of great account. The Swaar 

 and Spitzenburgh never acquire their finest flavor 

 when the branches are stunted ; but thrifty branches 

 on old trees bear as good fruit as young trees. 

 This remark applies to other kinds and especially 

 to Peaches. 



INFLUENCE OF SOIL, AND OF THE STOCK. 



As the earth is colder a few feet below than near 

 the surface, it is highly probable that such soils as 



* David Thomas, in Ohio Cultivator, 1845, p. 6. 



