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stages, attain with a seemingly marvelous celerity to a cer- 

 tain size, and thou remain witliout apparent change for 

 some five or six weeks, while the seed is perfecting. This 

 accomplished, the pear as well as the grape may be said to 

 commence "swelling off," increasing rapidly in size, and 

 gradually assuming the final color of tlie ripe fruit. In the 

 pear also, as well as in the grape, that change in the charac- 

 ter of the juices which constitutes tlie differeuce between a 

 ripe and an unripe fruit does not take place until after it 

 has attained its full size and final coloring. It is well 

 known that some varieties of pears, as the Bartlett, for in- 

 stance, will ripen up and be of tolerable quality even when 

 gathered quite prematurely ; but such bear no comparison 

 in size and flavor with those which are allowed to attain 

 their full maturity under the natural conditions. 



Some considerable attention has been given for the last 

 few years, towards testing the keeping qualities of our win- 

 ter pears. And it is found that with a judicious selection of 

 specimens, and a proper attention to the necessary conditions 

 of temperature, &c., more varieties than it was at first sup- 

 posed, can be preserved in good condition through the winter 

 and hito spring. Beurre d'Anjou, for instance, keeps well 

 into January ; GioutMorceau and Passe Colmar into March ; 

 "Winter Nelis through March and into April— the last named 

 three, in 1859, outlasting Easter Beurre. Lawrence finds 

 its best condition in or previous to January, as does also 

 Beurre d'Aremberg ; although the latter can frequently be 

 kept one or two months longer. But it is then likely to de- 

 cay at the core, and its usually rich, vinous flavor degene- 

 rates to a villainous acidity. Beurre Langelier keeps well, 

 but the writer has not jet succeeded in ripening it satisfac- 

 torily. 



Pears intended for late winter keeping, should not be 

 gathered too early. As a general rule, they can remain up- 

 on the tree to advantage until most or all of the leaves have 

 fallen. The indications of maturity should, however, be 

 carefully watched : and if the fruit begins to fall, or is readi- 

 ly detached by a slight twisting of the stem, it should be 

 gathered at once, and placed in a cool, dark room. 



The period between the gathering of the fruit and the set- 

 ting in of regularly cold weather, is the most critical time 

 in the management of winter pears. For if during "Indian 

 summer" weather they are allowed to become warmed 



