WHY THE BARTLETT RULES 297 



the choice of locality for growing it. These facts were expressed by 

 the late C. W. Reed, of Sacramento, who was in his time one of 

 the leading pear growers and shippers of the State, as follows : 



In the T>acramento Valley proper there is but one variety of pear that will 

 justify extensive cultivation, viz., the Bartlett. While nearly all varieties may 

 be grown successfully, and many varieties may be desirable for home pur- 

 poses, yet for profitable orchards we have to confine ourselves to this one 

 variety, except in high altitudes, or localities where the fruit only matures 

 very late. The reason for this will be better understood by the inexperienced 

 if explained. The Bartlett pear having qualities that make it a universal 

 favorite for shipping, canning, and for domestic market, no other variety is 

 wanted while it is obtainable. With the difference in the time of its ripening 

 in different localities that are adjacent, our markets are supplied with this 

 variety about four months each season, viz., July, August, September and Octo- 

 ber. While this pear is in the markets, any other variety to compete with it 

 must sell at very low prices. It is not only the great demand the Bartlett pear 

 has over the other varieties in the markets, but as a healthy grower and regular 

 bearer it has no equal. [This was written before the introduction of the pear 

 blight.] In higher altitudes, where pears will keep till the Bartlett has dis- 

 appeared, other varieties may be quite profitable, although they can never be 

 grown to any similar extent. 



Of course experienced pear growers, whose taste would soon 

 cloy with a continuous diet of Bartletts, and who know fully the 

 superior quality of other varieties which ripen soon after it, would 

 dispute the position taken by Mr. Reed, but for present California 

 taste and trade he is undoubtedly correct. As the canners and ship- 

 pers and local consumers all call for Bartletts, and as they usually 

 sell at tue East for nearly twice the price of other varieties, the choice 

 of location to secure a Bartlett, either very early or very late, is 

 the part of wisdom, for either end of the season usually yields 

 better prices than the middle. Some growers are even opening 

 the Bartlett season by growing Clapp's Favorite, which sells well 

 because it is taken for a Bartlett, and closing the season with the 

 Winter Bartlett, a local variety recently introduced. The earliest 

 Bartletts come from the interior valley sometimes as early as the 

 last week in June ; the next, from the valleys adjacent to the bay 

 of San Francisco ; the next, from the higher foot-hills of the Sierra 

 Nevada; and the last, so far as present experience goes, although 

 some coast and mountain situations are quite late, reach the mar- 

 ket from the Vacaville district. It is an interesting fact that this 

 district, which has long been famous for marketing the first early 

 fruits, should also market very late ones. It is true, however, that 

 early fruits hasten to maturity and late fruits are retarded. Late 

 fruits push along until about midsummer, then stop growing for 

 a month or two during the hottest weather, and afterwards pro- 

 ceed on their course and finish up well. W. W. Smith, of Vaca 

 Valley, has picked Bartletts as late as November 19, but that is 

 unusually late. In years with heavy late spring rains the Bartlett 

 ripens earlier in the Vaca Valley than in ordinary seasons, and 

 when the fruit sells well in the East, the Bartletts are gathered 



