312 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



grown as are desired. Even there, only a few are cultivated, however, 

 because the trade does not call for many. 



THE PEAR 



Along with the apple from Europe came the pear, with the first settlers. 

 There are seedling trees now standing near Detroit, Michigan, and in healthy 

 bearing condition that were planted by the French missionaries more than two 

 hundred and fifty years ago. While we cannot boast of more than a few such 

 trees we have many that are from fifty to a hundred years old, and bearing 

 abundantly. The first tree of the variety which we call Bartlett, was brought 

 from England to America nearly one hundred years ago, and planted at 

 Dorchester, Massachusetts. It is still in a healthy condition and fruiting. 

 This variety originated in Berkshire, England, where it '" called Williams', but 

 when the variety was brought to this country the name was lost, and it was 

 renamed in honour of Enoch Bartlett, who first propagated it and sent out the 

 young scions in America. It is our leading pear to-day, both for home and 

 market use. Most of our varieties came from France and Belgium, but some 

 came from England, Germany, and Russia. There were brought from China, 

 about 1850, seeds of the common pear of that country, which we have named 

 " Sand pear," perhaps because of the gritty and acrid character of the fruit. 

 The trees proved to be very healthy and vigorous, and from a supposed cross 

 between the bloom of one of these trees and a Bartlett standing not far away, 

 about 1870, came a seedling that has been named KiefFer, which has almost 

 revolutionised pear growing in America. The fruit is of only fair quality, and 

 many may think it very poor ; but it is large and beautifully coloured when ripe, 

 and the flesh is very firm. It is a great canning pear. But the main points in 

 its favour are the almost perfect freedom of the tree from blight, which is the 

 greatest drawback to pear culture in America, its vigour, and constant and 

 abundant bearing. KiefFer pear trees are to-day planted by the million, and 

 the fruit is in a fair way to capture the market. Poor as it is, the exporters are 

 sending the fruit to England and other foreign markets, and the sales seem to 

 encourage larger shipments. There are many other seedling pears of American 

 origin that are superior in many respects. The Seckel is one of these, and it is 

 the most delicious in flavour of all pears. It is small, but the tree is very hardy 

 and almost proof against blight. While most varieties are accidental seedlings, 

 some of our pomologists have made careful and systematic efforts to produce 

 seedlings by crossing, and have thus originated several varieties of excellence. 



Pear Culture is common in every part of the Continent, except Southern 

 Mexico, Alaska, and the northern parts of Minnesota and British Columbia. 

 It is remarkable how well this tree adapts itself to almost every soil and climate 

 in America. While the fruit is not nearly so popular as the apple, yet it is 

 used more or less in almost every family, and is sold in all our markets in some 

 form. Canned and evaporated pears are among the standard supplies of all 

 grocers. California, where all conditions seem to conspire to the success of the 



