74 THE CANADIAN HOKTICULTURIST, 



THE VICAE OF WINKFIELD PEAE. 



BY JOHN M. McAINSH, NISSOURI. 



As tlie Yicar of Winkfield pear has been widely disseminated 

 throughout the country, and is offered for sale by our leading nursery- 

 men, it is well that'intending pear growers should be accjuainted with 

 its true character — -its jmerits and faults. My description is given 

 from some fifteen years experience with it. To begin with, the tree is 

 a good healthy grower, and naturally forms a beautiful shaped tree. 

 Although not ranking among the very hardy sorts, it is sufficiently 

 hardy for a large part of Ontario ; at least I find that it is sufiiciently 

 hardy for this section of country. It is an enormous bearer ; in fact 

 this is one of its faults, for if allowed to bear at will, every second 

 year it wdll be loaded with a larger crop than the tree can bring to 

 perfection, consequently they are of poor quality and small size. But 

 where the fruit is properly thinned out, and good cultivation given, it 

 wdll be of good size and handsome appearance. 



If the quality of this pear was equal to its good growing qualities 

 and its productivenesss, it would deservedly stand in the front rank, 

 but unfortunately this is not the case. As a dessert pear it is generally 

 of poor quality, but occasionally is good ; in this respect it is very 

 variable. As a cooking pear or for preserving it is very good, and 

 this I think is the only purpose for which it can be profitably grown. 

 There is one peculiarity about this variety which it is well to know, 

 and that is that when the trees are young and just coming into bearing 

 the fruit is of very poor quality, but as they acquire age the quality 

 improves. If my Vicars improve as much in the next ten years as 

 in the last ten I will be pretty well satisfied with them. The pro- 

 ductiveness of this variety, its preserving qualities, and the season of 

 its ripening (Dec. and Jan.) will recommend it for cultivation in a 

 limited degree, but those who want a pear of good quality in all respects 

 must turn their attention to some other variety. 



PEINCESS LOUISE APPLE. 



"We have received from Mr. Linus Woolverton samples of this apple, 

 which was exhibited at one of the winter meetings of the Association, 

 and very highly commended in the Eeport of the Committee on new 

 fruits. In form, this apple is nearly conical, flattened somewhat at both 



