616 Retrospective Criticism. 



person generally prefers the trees of his own planting, no matter what they 

 are, to the most venerable oaks in a park or forest. Of these tedious walks 

 or drives my late father used frequently to say, that " No stranger would go 

 the second time unless you make him." And of a formal belt to hide a 

 beautiful prospect, or rather to hide what does not belong the owner, his 

 expression used to be, " These miserable belts to shut out mankind ! " — 

 John Adey Rep ton. Springfield, near Chelmsford, Oct. 1. 1840. 



The Van Alons Leon Leclerc Pear. — Being an attentive reader of your 

 interesting Journal, I have not failed to remark the criticism which you have 

 raade (p. 266.) on the name given to the new pear raised by me, and intro- 

 duced into England by M. Rene Langelier. Far from disclaiming this criti- 

 cism, I am the first, on the contrary, to acknowledge its justice ; but, after this 

 confession, you will allow me, I hope, to say a few words, if not to excuse 

 myself, at least to explain the cause of this immeasurable length which has 

 shocked you so much. The case is this : Full of gratitude for the signal ser- 

 vices which M. Van Mons has rendered to science, and in particular for the 

 special marks of kindness he has shown me, I eagerly seized the opportunity 

 of the pear in question appearing in my nursery to submit it to M. Van 

 Mons. The pear appeared to him to be of the very first rank (such were 

 his expressions), and he was willing to accept of the dedication to him, but 

 being under the necessity of distinguishing this new variety from several others 

 which already bore the name of Van Mons, it was this venerable patriarch of 

 pomology himself who desired that my name, very unworthy no doubt, should 

 be placed after his to serve as a distinctive character. Was it my place to 

 refuse this mark of his kindness ? In acknowledging myself again guilty, as 

 I did at the beginning of this letter, I may hope that, in condemning me with 

 full justice, you will at least allow me the advantage of attenuating circum- 

 stances. 



With respect to the novelty of this fruit, which som.e persons, it appears, 

 have called in question, I cannot find a better method of removing all doubts 

 on this head than in having the honour of sending you some specimens, 

 which M. Langelier (Rene), my respected correspondent, undertakes to 

 transmit to you. 



Accept, Sir, the expression of my gratitude for all the pleasure which I 

 have derived, and still continue to derive, from your valuable publications of 

 different kinds, and all of the highest esteem. — L. Leclerc. Laval, Defarte- 

 vient de Mayenne, Sept. 26. 1840. 



The passage alluded to occurs in a Review by J. B. W., one of our most 

 valuable correspondents, in p. 266. ; and we regret its appearance, not only 

 because it has caused pain to M. Leclerc, but because it stands there a proof 

 of our own neglect in not carrying out a principle which we have always 

 taken as a guide, viz. never to condemn, or let others condemn, anonymously, 

 or pseudo-anonymously, without assigning a reason. M. Leclerc has fully 

 justified the name given to the pear, as far as he is concerned, and with re- 

 ference to the present state of fruit nomenclature. With respect to the 

 merits of this pear, we have received the two specimens from the parent tree 

 referred to by M. Leclerc, and mentioned by M. Rene Langelier in a separate 

 letter, and we certainly think they are by far the best pears that we ever 

 tasted. They were perfectly ripe on the 13th October, as large as the largest 

 Duchesse d'Angouleme, and shaped a good deal like that fruit, with a flavour 

 remarkably rich, and, as it appeared to us, partaking of that of the pine- 

 apple, and consequently having more acidity in it, joined to sugary richness, 

 than is the case with most pears. A more perfect description of it, however, 

 will doubtless be prepared by Mr. Thompson. In the meantime every pos- 

 sessor of a garden, who wishes to grow what really appears to be the best 

 pear in existence, will lose no time in possessing themselves of a scion or a 

 tree of this variety. — Cond. 



