826 



First and second rate pears, is only a relative term, those 

 which can he properly ranked as first rate abroad will be 

 found inferior here it may be and vice versa. In England 

 the Bartlett is second rate ; here it is a first rate ; the Beurre 

 d'Aremberg is only second rate here, but there it is a first 

 rate winter fruit. With us the Winter Nelis and Lawrence 

 ■are much preferable. 



The subject of wliat is called the pear blight is worthy a 

 .passsing remark. This disease, said Mr. Ia'CS, was quite 

 prevalent around Boston some years since, and it was then 

 attributed to the work of an insect called by Prof. Peck 

 Scol//tus p'l/ri. Much controversy however arose on this 

 point, as can be found in the journak and newspapers of that 

 time, and a great many cultivators were sceptical regarding 

 tthe theory. Mr. I. had come to the conclusion that it could 

 not be the work of any insect solely, but that more likely, 

 high dressing with uncomposted manures of animal origin 

 must be the cause of much of this evil. It seemed much 

 .more creditable that vegetable composts were to be preferred, 

 and the experience of some of the most successful cultiva- 

 tors, whose old pear trees were in unploughed land and 

 which had only annual dressings of wood ashes corroborated 

 this opinion. Mr. I. also had a few words to say about the 

 ringing of the bearing branches of the grape vine, having 

 practiced it for several years upon the Isabella grape with 

 marked success. By this process he had been able to ripen 

 iuinches which would weigh nearly a pound each. He 

 thought it a good plan to take down the limbs and shoots 

 from the Avail on approach of winter and lay them up- 

 on or just under the ground, covering them with earth or 

 mats, contending that it was the warmth of the sun's rays 

 and not cold which so often killed the vine in winter ; es- 

 pecially affecting the last 3'ear's wood. ■ 



At the conclusion of the essay by Mr. Ives, of which we 

 have given the substance, a discussion arose respecting the 



