THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 105 



EXPERIENCE IN PEAR CULTUPtE. 



BY W. MCKENZIE ROSS, CHATHAM. 



We find that the pear was common in the earliest times of the 

 Romans; it was common in Syria, Egypt, and Greece. Virgil mentions 

 pe*irs which he received from Canton ; Pliny describes the varieties in 

 cultivation in liis time as being numerous, and mention is made by 

 the Emperor Tiberius of most delicate and agreeable pears. 



Th'e pear is not a native of America, but was brought from other 

 continents. We read of its growing wild in some parts of Europe, 

 Asm and China. It was brought to great perfection by such men as 

 Van Mons, Knight, and many others of the present day. But I am 

 not asked for the history of the pear, but the result of my own 

 .experience with it. I shall therefore begin with the little Amire Joan- 

 ette, which yielded in 1879, being planted eight years, standard, 2\ 

 bushels, which were sold for 12| cents per quart, or S9.00. In 1880 

 my sale book gives it credit for G4 quarts, and sold for $8.00, besides 

 a few quarts for the use of the house. It ripens about July loth. I 

 keep the soil clean and rich around it. 



The next in order is the Doyenne d'Ete, which ripens here about 

 the 20th July, and sells freely for 12| cents per quart. It grows well 

 ■either as standard or dwarf, and is a most delicious little pear. The 

 skin is clear yellow marlced with small dots, and red next the sun ; 

 flesh white, melting, very sweet and juicy. 



Beurre Giffard comes next, and is much larger than the former, 

 with a greenish-yellow red next the sun. Flesh white and most 

 delicious, and the fruit sells here for about 10c. per quart. The tree 

 is a slender grower, but healthy, hardy and productive. It is ripe 

 here about the last of July. 



The Bartlett is a splendid pear. The tree grows upright, with 

 straight yellow shoots. Skin smooth, yellow, with a blush on the 

 .sunny side ; it is sweet, juicy, with a highly perfumed vinous flavor. 

 It is ripe here from 25 th August to 10 th September, and sells for 

 $2.50 per bushel. 



The Clapp's Favorite is my next, — a most gorgeous pale yellow 

 pear, marbled and splashed with red and light brown. Flesh white, 

 fine grained, juicy, melting, buttery, rich, with sweet perfume. I can 

 see in imagination the lovelv baskets of this beautiful fruit even now 



