lljf. Hie Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



Doyenne D'Ete. Bueire Bosc. 



Jargonelle. Duchess tVAngouleme. • 



Bartlett. Buerre Diel. 



Louise Bonne of Jersey. Buerre Hardy. 



Jersey Gratioli. Marechal de la Cour. 



Belle' Lucrative. Doyenne de Cornice. 



Sutt'olk Thorne. Glout Morceau. 



Seckel. Winter Nells. 



Comte de Lamy. Buerre Ranee. ■♦ 



Flemish Beauty. Josephine de Malines. 



Marie Louise. >■ Bergamotte d'Esperen. 



Thompson's. Easter Buerre. 



On looking over this list, it is interesting to observe that fully one-half are among our 

 best popular pears in the Northern and Eastern States ; six others, although not widely 

 cultivated, stand high as good sorts ; one or two others are good old pears of considerable 

 merit wlien properly managed ; while only three are found either unadapied to our coun- 

 try or of inferior merit. The fact that so many sorts prove excellent and stand high in 

 the listf, both in Southern England and in this country, offers encouragement to those who 

 are about setting out orchards and fruit gardens in new regions of the countrj'T — Country 

 Oenileman. 



That Barren Grape Vine. , 



Bt The Associate Kditor. 



In the December number of the Pomologist, Mr. Stauffer, of Lancaster, Pennsylva- 

 nia, has taken our remark for part of his text that — "No journal can become popular that 

 is purely practical, unless man ceases to think, and becomes a monkey." The more we 

 see of the manifestations of nature, the more we are convinced of the truth of that say- 

 ing. It was the careful study of the different manifestations of nature, their changes, 

 interchanges and co-relations which led us to correct theories and practical results. The 

 peculiar manifestations of electricity led to the discovery that it might be safelj' con- 

 ducted upon a wire. This led to the discovery of magnetism and electro-magnetism, 

 charging and. discharging magnets by a simple helix, connecting and disconnecting the 

 current of electricity, regardless of the length of the wire, which led to the discover}' of 

 the Magnetic Telegraph, that has brought distant nations together. So all tacts had to first 

 exist as fragments, suggestions, suppositions or theories, before they could be reduced to 

 practice. With these few preliminary remarks we will indulge in a few upon his barren 

 grape vine. It is the rare observation of bearing vines becoming barren that makes us 

 look upon the occurrence as strange and mysterious. Many similar fiicts might be given 

 in corroboration of its truth. 



In the fall of 1860, we found a wild grape vine in the woods bearing a good crop of fine 

 fruit. In examining it we found it had naturally Ifiyered itself. We took it up in proper 

 season and divided it into three plants, and transplanted them in good, prepared soil. 

 They did not grow well at first until we laid m the canes, since which time they have made 

 vigorous growth, but strange to say they bloom but do not set any fruit, and to all out- 

 ward appearance are male or barren vines. That they once bore we do know, but why the}' 

 have become barren is the query. It is, however, a well established principle, that great 

 vigor of growth is at the expense of productiveness. Therefore, whatever has a tendency 

 to check this excessive growth and mature the wood, will increase productiveness. We 

 have frequently seen gnipe vines pruned so short that they would scarcely set any fruit, 

 and what would set were straggling and imperfect. This same principle is illustrated in 

 trees first coming into bearing, they bloom freely but .set but little fruit. 



AVe saw this more fully demonstrated some years ago in Dr. Houghton's pear orchard, 

 near Philadelphia, which bloomed profusely but did not bear well. This orchard was in 

 the very highest state of cultivation, manured, shortened in, and showing very vigorous 

 growth. The blossoms were submitted to an examination, and showed defective fertiliz- 

 ation. We have frequently seen the same thing occur on the rich soil of the West, par- 



