14 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 
his Le Thédtre d’ Agriculture in 1608, a book ever to be notable in agricul- 
ture as the first to break wholly away from the 1600 years of repetition of 
book after book in the languages of Europe which but copied the ancients. 
De Serres was a good farmer — most of his farming operations have not 
been improved upon; he founded the first experimental farm of which 
there is record at his home near Pradel and so became the first of a long 
line of modern experimenters in agriculture. Lastly, De Serres was a 
charming writer and his book rapidly ran through many editions and was 
translated into several languages. To him must be given credit for first 
sounding the alluring call of ‘“‘ back to the land” which rings from nearly 
every page of his books. Here is his appeal to plant pears; and words 
could hardly make it simpler, more charming, and more compelling: 
“There is no tree among all those planted which abounds so much 
in kinds of fruits as the pear tree, whose different sorts are innumerable 
and their different qualities wonderful. For from the month of May to 
that of December pears good to eat are found on the trees. In considering 
particularly the different shapes, sizes, colors, flavors, and odors of the 
pear, who will not adore the wisdom of the creator. Pears are found 
round, long ‘goderonnees’! pointed, blunt, small, and large. Gold, silver, 
vermillion, and satin green are found among the pears. Sugar, honey, 
cinnamon, clove, flavor them. They smell of musk, amber, and chive. 
In short, so excellent are the fruits that an orchard would not be worth 
while in a place where pear trees do not thrive.”’ 
This laudation of the pear, in which it is made manifest that many 
pears of diverse shapes, colors, flavors, and perfumes existed in the year 
1600, is all that space permits from De Serres, though much could be quoted. 
as to the care of pear orchards, and a list of kinds could be given, of which, 
however, the descriptions count for but little. Le Lectier, to whom we 
now come, is a better authority on varieties. 
Le Lectier, an attorney of the king at Orleans, was an amateur fruit 
collector, but a collector who reflected and printed his reflections. He 
seems to have been about the first of the many collectors who, with fruit- 
growing as an avocation, have zealously sought to improve and distribute 
varieties, and thereby have done as much or more for pomology than those 
who have made fruit-growing a vocation. Though Le Lectier collected 
all of the fruits of his time and country, the pear was mistress of his passion, 
a passion which gave him such pleasure that it excited others to become 
amateurs and emulate him. The result was that a country-wide taste for 
1 Goderonne: From godron, a sculptural ornament having the shape of an elongated egg. 
