556 [Assembly 



[Translated from the same.] 



The French are very fond of the luxury of fine fruit, and that 

 too very early or out of the ordinary seasons. The ladies assu- 

 redly entertain the opinion of the ladies of ancient Athens, that 

 the use of finest fruits increased their personal beauty. How- 

 ever that may be, it is indubitable that fine health depends great- 

 ly upon the influence of perfect fruits. The rich in France pay 

 the highest prices for choice fruits. 



R. L. Pell, of Pellham — The subject of the pear is before us to 

 day, and I will say a few words about it, as no gentleman seems 

 just now ready to speak. 



The pear (Pyrus communis,) was brought from the east by the 

 Romans, by whom they were cultivated with great care. The 

 Flemings, Dutch and French have excelled all other nations in 

 the cultivation of this delicious fruit. Most of our fine late va- 

 rieties originally came from Flanders and France. Its delicacy 

 and texture is finer than the apple, and it is in season for many 

 months, which are desirable qualities ; it is allowed to be gener- 

 ally speaking, full as hardy as the apple, and equally long lived. 

 It has been known to flourish for hundreds of years in a proper 

 dry soil, though it will grow in almost any variety of earth, pro- 

 ducing worthless fruit unless properly cultivated, the flavor can- 

 not be luscious unless the soil is deep, well tilled and sufficiently 

 rich to produce a luxuriant growth — there is no fruit tree known 

 that will better repay labor than the pear, it requires liming, 

 ashing, mulching, manuring, scraping, and judicious trimming. 

 During dry summers the soil contiguous to the tree should be 

 frequently stirred, which causes it to absorb moisture for the 

 benefit of the roots, spongioles and fibres, and consequent swell- 

 ing of the luscious and magnificent fruit. Pears have been as- 

 tonishingly improved as a table luxury within the last thirty 

 years, through the good management of Flemish and French hor- 

 ticulturists, by whose experiments our people have profited 

 greatly. When fine and aromatic they are infinitely preferred to 

 the apple at dessert. They are divided into summer, autumn, 

 and winter pears. 



