STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. ] 23 



in Massachusetts, and "early winter" in this State. It is so 

 with the Duchess — two or three weeks later here than in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Mr. Gilbert. Those who understand the keeping of fruit know 

 that "late auturun " means that you can keep it to the early 

 winter. 



Mr. Ham. I buy the pear and ship it — from Massachusetts, 

 mostly. They are fit to eat, say from the Middle of October to 

 the middle of November. It is a good keeping pear, something 

 like the Lawrence ; can be kept late in the winter by proper care. 



Winter Nelis. — Mr. Gilbert. Is it dwarfish in its growth ? 



Mr. McLaughlin. Rather a moderate growth with me. Quality 

 fine. 



Vicar of Winkfield. — Mr. G. B. Sawi^er. I think it is well 

 described in our catalogue. 



Mr. Gilbert. Is it not necessary that they should be thinned 

 to perfect their growth and quality ? I have seen them grown 

 when nearly all were worthless, while a few specimens well 

 grown, will attain a very desirable quality. 



Mr. Smith. It is the case with most all pears that you cannot 

 get them all good. 



Mr. G. B. Sawyer. I move that the Eastern Belle be added to 

 the list, and will call upon Mr. McLaughlin, the originator, for a 

 description of it. I will remark that it has been presented to 

 growers in Massachusetts and before the American Pomological 

 Society, and has been highly recommended. 



Mr. McLaughlin. The tree is a seeedling of the McLaughlin 

 pear, which my father planted, and which has been bearing 

 fifteen years or more. It is a moderate grower and perfectly 

 hardy. The fruit is of good size, peculiarly rich and spicy, color 

 yellowish, occasionally tinged with red, good shape, with long 

 stems, very evenly distributed over the tree, and never rots at the 

 core. I have never had any trouble with their blowing off. The 

 tree is an upright grower. It is generally admitted by those who 

 have tried it, to be a good pear. Downing in his last edition of 

 " Selected Fruits," says it is one of the best. 



I would suggest while I am up, as I must leave in a few min- 

 utes, that we add to our list of pears the Beurre Giffard as an 

 early pear, and Manning's Elizabeth and the Beurre Superfin. 

 The objection to the Giffard is one that attaches to all the early 



