158 



local supply is insufficient, can be furnished with this fruit, also peaches, plums and 

 grapes, from southern Ontario more cheaply and as good as from any other country 

 in the world. 



In our district Detroit gets most of our surplus stock, and there we come in 

 contact with fruit from different parts of United States, not excepting California, 

 and in some varieties we can produce them as large as the latter, and in almost all 

 varieties the flavour of our fruit is superior. 



To show you whether there is any money in raising pears in southern Ontario, 

 will give you a little of our experience, and you can draw your own conclusions. 

 We have an orchai-d of three acres, in which there are fou.r hundred and fifty 

 trees; these are set close to 11 feet apart each way. Ninety-seven per cent, of the 

 trees are bearing, and are from ten to twenty years of age ; some few are only four 

 and five years, put in lately to fill up vacancies. For the last three years we have 

 realized or sold the product for $208, averaging one year with another. For the 

 year 1887 we got almost two hundred bushels, for 1888 one hundred and forty 

 bushels, and 1889 close to two hundred and seventy-five bushels. 

 Now, taking cost of the trees at 50c. each it 



amountsto $225 00 



Value of land per acre at $150 for three acres 450 00 



Labour for setting out trees, 10c. each 45 00 



$720 00 



Interest on investment of $720, at 8 per cent 43 60 



Cost of picking fruit, 50c. per bushel 10 25 



Marketing fruit 20 00 



Pruning trees, 22J days at $1.50 per day 33 75 



Total $107 60 



The average gross sales were $208 00 



The annual expenditure including interest on in- 

 vestment 107 60 



Net profit for three acres per year $100 40 



Net profit for each acre per year 33 46 



Some will ask. What about the returns for the first few years after planting? 

 In reply I will say that the trees will not interfere materially in raising good crops, 

 off the same ground, such as potatoes, turnips, mangolds, &c., for the first few 

 years, and later on nearly any crop that is profitable, for the trees do not shade the 

 ground as much as apple trees. 



Those varieties of pears that succeed well with us are, for summer : Elliott's 

 Early, Doyenne, d'Ete, Magdeline, Tyson; for autumn, Bartlett, Clapp's Favourite, 

 Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Howell, Louise Bonne of Jerse_y, Beurre Bosc, Beurre 

 Superfine, late autumn : Duchess, Anjou, Sheldon, Claii-geau, winter : Graslin 

 (fairly), Vicar of Winkfield, Winter Nellis and Lawrence. My pick of the fii'st class 

 would be the Doyenne d'Ete; it has a fine flavour, good appearance, and usually bears 

 well; tree hardy; size small. The Elliott's Early i6 not much known; was intro- 

 duced by Mr. Elliott, of Sandwich, ripens the first with us and it has a good flavour; 

 trees are not very hardy. In the 2nd class, the Bartlett is much sought after and 

 seema to be the standard pear, and with us brings the highest price in its season ; 

 also, is used more for canning than an}' other pear. The Flemish Beauty comes 

 next for this industiy. The Seckel is the finest pear we have for dessert purposes, 

 and the trees seem hardy and free from blight. The Howell is a good bearer and 

 sells well, being of good size, with a palo yellow colour. In the 3rd class, for standard 

 trees I prefer the Anjou and Clairgeau. The latter grow large, and what they lack 

 in quality, which is fair, is made up by their fine appearance. In the last class all 



