80 PYRUS. 



age ; the pomes or berries ripen in September, and are then 

 a rich addition, from their warm and glowing effect, to 

 the foliage of the woods. If wanted for seed, they ought 

 to be gathered as soon as they are fully matured ; other- 

 wise they rapidly disappear, the gastric powers of the 

 thrush tribe beirjg in constant activity, every member 

 of the family voting them a delicious repast, and never 

 deserting the vicinity of a fruit-bearing tree until the whole 

 of its produce is consumed. 



fi 



The berries may be sown immediately after being 

 gathered, or else kept, during the winter months, in any 

 cool place, and mixed with sand or light earth, and fre- 

 quently turned over, in order to decompose and get rid 

 of the investing pulp, and not sown till March or April. 

 The seed beds ought to be made up of fine pulverized 

 earth, and the berries not sown too thick, and but lightly 

 covered. The growth of the young plants is rapid, and 

 they are mostly fit to run into nursery rows the following 

 spring, from whence, in the course of another season, 

 many will be found large enough to transplant into their 

 permanent stations. 



