NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



121 



EASTER BEURRE PEAR. 



Size, rather large; form, roundish-obovate, often 

 varying to almost roundisli-oval, like the above 

 representation ; color, dark-yellowish, green, with a 

 brown cheek full in the sun, and specks and patches 

 of russet ; stem, short, stout, in a small, abrupt 

 cavity ; calyx, small, in a shallow, plaited basin ; 

 flesh, white, fine texture, tender, melting, of a sweet, 

 luscious flavor. In use from December to May. It 

 is a good grower, and generally bears well and 

 early. 



When grown to perfection, and well ripened, by 

 good management, the Easter Beurre is among the 

 best very late pears ; but like many other delicious 

 foreign fruits, it is very uncertain in New England, 

 and is adapted to the garden, rather than to 

 orchard culture. It will succeed only in warm loca- 

 tions, and some cultivators, with a favorable situation, 

 have abandoned it on account of its uncertainty, 

 while others prefer it to all other late winter and 

 spring pears. It is in use when pears are very scarce, 

 as we have but very few kinds at this season. The 

 Easter Beurre succeeds best on the quince stock : 

 this is the general opinion of cultivators ; but Mr. 

 Pond says, that he is more successful in using the 

 pear stock. 



Our engraving is made from a fine specimen in a 

 lot presented by Samuel Pond, Esq., of Cambridge- 

 port, who, in a fine location, and with skilful man- 

 agement, succeeds well with this variety. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 MAKING HOTBEDS. 



Me. Editor : In making hotbeds, most people 

 follow the rules of the English gardeners, and do not 

 make any allowance for climate. The article in the 

 Farmer, March 17, states the quantity of manure at 

 three feet for February, and one and a half feet for the 

 last of March or first of April. I have used hotbeds 

 ever since 1831, and have never used half that quan- 

 tity, and have had more trouble with heat than with 

 cold. I make my bed as follows : — 



I do not want the whole depth of the hole more 

 than eighteen inches from the glass to the bottom, 

 which is filled np as follows : viz., two inches at the 

 bottom, with dry leaves or meadow hay ; four inches 

 of good green horse manure ; six inches of good rich 

 mellow soil ; and that leaves six inches for the plants 

 to grow in at first ; and the settling of the bed soon 

 makes more room. If the soil is dry enough for 

 sowing, I never wait for heat, but put the seed in 

 directly, and in three or four days the plants will 

 begin to come up. A bed made in this way will 

 force the plants full fast enough, and will notreqviire 

 one half so much water as one made with two or 

 three feet of manure. And the last week in March 

 or the first of April I consider early enough for 

 tomato, cabbage, lettuce, cress, pepper, &c., in this 

 climate. If there are any seeds of weeds in the soil, 

 they will get a start of the plants, if sowing be de- 

 layed after the bed is prepared. 



B. F. CUTTEIl. 



Pelham, N. H., March, 1849. 



