XXVII. 

 THE BARLAND PEAR. 



The writers on orchards of the 17th century, have expatiated 

 widely upon the excellence of this pear, for the press ; and it 

 has, in consequence, been much planted in Herefordshire, 

 and in some of the adjoining counties. Wherever the soil and 

 cUmate have been favourable, the trees have acquired an 

 extraordinary sizeand height ; and they are much distinguished 

 by the beauty of their forms and foliage. 



Many thousand hogsheads of perry are made from this 

 fruit, in a productive season ; but the perry is not so much 

 approved by the present, as it was by the original planters. 

 It, however, sells well, whilst new, to the merchants; who 

 have, probably, some means of employing it, with which the 

 public are not acquainted : for I have never met with it, more 

 than once, within the last twenty years, out of the districts in 

 which it is made, and many of the Herefordshire planters, 

 have applied to me in vain, for information respecting its 

 disappearance. It may be mingled in considerable quantity, 

 with strong and new port, without its taste becoming percep- 

 tible; and as it is comparatively cheap, it possibly sometimes 

 contributes one of the numerous ingredients of that popular 

 compound. 



