PROCEEDINGS OF THE HORTICULTDRAL ASSOCIATION. 659 



sent to our last exhibition by M. Andre Lcroy, of Ang-crs, France, beg 

 leave to report — 



That the collection, as a whole, was very fine, and considering- the num- 

 ber of new varieties, was more interesting than any previous exhibition of 

 foreijjn fruit ever sliown in this city. 



We naturally look for new and superior varieties of pears from France, 

 where the greatest attention is paid to h3'bridizing and producing seed- 

 lings, and in the detailed report of th<? separate varieties accompanying 

 this paper, you will notice several new pears ranking best. 



To our great regret, the pears more especially were in so many varieties 

 so much decayed as to render it impossible to judge of their merits, and 

 out of the large number of varieties, only those which were in a condition 

 to test have been noted. 



The secretary has a list of all the varieties, and it is to be hoped that 

 we may have a subsequent opportunity to test them. Unfortunately, 

 nearly all the fruit which was sound, was more or less tainted with the 

 odors of the ship's hold, and on this account the ranking of some of the 

 varieties must be considered as perhaps subject to some modification, 

 when specimens grown here may rank higher. Those however which, 

 under this disadvantage, are judged to rank as good, very good, or best, 

 may be safely recommended as desirable for trial. Of course they must bo 

 tested in our own climate and varied soils, before being recommended for 

 general cultivation. 



Your committee were not prepared to expect such a splendid display of 

 apples as was found in the collection. The size, beauty and quality of 

 many varieties were superior. 



In conclusion, we beg to call the attention of the Association to the obli- 

 gation we are under to Mr. Leroy for the opportunity given us of examin- 

 ing his fine collection, and it would be ungracious not to acknowledge it. 



In the French catalogues we can read of the new varieties of fruit for 

 years before we have the visible evidences of their qualities, but here we 

 had the privilege of testing the fruit itself, including most of the new varie- 

 ties, of which, if there are in this country any young trees, they have not 

 yet borne fruit, and possibly in this collection were specimens of seedlings 

 which have fruited in France for the Jirst time this year. Those of us who 

 know the long delays required to determine the rank and value of new 

 varieties, must appreciate the great advantage which such opportunities 

 afford, and we regret that the fruit-growers of the country could not all 

 have availed themselves. of the examination of this collection. 



Leaving out of view therefore the gain to accrue t(» us b}' stimulating 

 Mr. Leroy to continue his contributions, we trust that the Association will 

 see fit to send Mr. Leroy some suitable testimonial in acknowledgment of 

 his courteous response to our invitation to exhibit, and we beg that you 

 will at once take some action upon the subject. 



WM. S. CARPENTER, 



New York, Dec. 13, 1864. B. C. TOVVNSEXD, 



Committee. 



PEARS. 



Royale d'Hiver — Large; pyriform; second rate. 



