722 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



very qualities, and it is about the only pear they do know, though a few 

 have tasted the Seckel and have endorsed it too, because bein^ an Ameri- 

 can, though half grown from neglected culture, it is an American still, good 

 and trustworthy to its very core. 



Were we addressing amateurs we should make no apology for saying, 

 those that only know the Bartlett do not know what good pears are, and 

 to prove the truth of this remark, were it the appropriate season for testing 

 and you were with me in the fruit room — the proof of the pudding you 

 know is said to be in the eating, you would most readily assent to it. 



And now having invited you into the orchard, courtesy demands that I 

 extend to you all even at this time a most cordial invitation to accompany 

 nie even there, and sec if the mouth is not made to water first in beholding 

 the golden colored Glout Morceau, Beurre d'Anjou, or Beurre Gris d'Hiver 

 Noveau, and then above all in tasting those greedy morsels. 



And now lest what we have said apparently in disparagement of the 

 Bartlett, and what we are prepared more distinctly to affirm, that it is not 

 even one among our most delicious pears, it is still in view of the very 

 qualities we have ascribed to it, namely, its uniform productiveness, its 

 large size, golden color, solid fl^sh, and almost universally acceptable fla- 

 vor, possibly the best pear grown ; and not only for the present, but des- 

 tined to be the most popular pear for years to come, and therefore the one 

 to be commended above all others for general cultivation. 



This commendation of the Bartlett among pears, is akin to that of the 

 Baldwin among apples, that for its size, its brilliant red color, with its 

 fairness of skin, constituting it altogether a most beautiful apple, with its 

 long keeping qualities, its freedom from injury in transportation, its excel- 

 lence of flavor, firmness of flesh, quite up to the time of ripeness, and then 

 with a m'oderate degree of softness, combined with great productiveness, 

 as well as vigor of growth and symmetry of form in the tree, make it 

 altogether a king among apples. In saying this of the Baldwin we believe 

 that we may not be charged with saying, there are not more delicious ap- 

 ples. Even the Dominie, scarcely known out of its favorite locality, will 

 readil}'- carry off the palm, compared with it in flavor. And othois there 

 are, possibly we might name a dozen higher flavored, more delicious apples, 

 and yet in view of all the good qualities of the Baldwin above enumerated, 

 no one in our judgment would compare with that apple, when we talk about 

 the best. And so too with the Black Tartarian among cherries, inferior as 

 it is in deliciousness to the Coe's Transparent. 



This is but endorsing the remark long since made by Mr. Ilovey. There 

 are certain fruits which hold their place for a great length of time, and for 

 which it is difficult to supply a better, not that they are the very best of 

 their class, but because all qualities considered they far outnumber all 

 others. 



We haye said that pear culture was still in its infancy. Half a century 

 ago and there were but few varieties of great excellence, indeed the Seckel 

 stood almost alone. The awakened interest in this branch of horticulture, 

 under the labors of Downing, Ilovey, Dana and Wilder, has resulted in giving 

 us of American origin, quite a number of surpassing* excellence. Indeed, 

 there are none to be so highly commended, to those now embarking in this 



