136 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



portance. But although, no doubt, in any family a few Pears for 

 dessert are useful, yet generally speaking they can be well 

 spared. Nevertheless, so very many amateur possessors of small 

 gardens make a speciality or hobby of their Pears that I will not 

 even suggest how many should be grown, but will make a few 

 general remarks. 



After many years' experience (for I have grown Pears in 

 great variety for upwards of thirty years, and my father did so 

 before me) I am convinced that it is nothing but space and labour 

 lost and vexation of spirit for nine people out of ten to attempt 

 to grow late Pears ; such, I mean, as Easter Beurre, Beurre Bance, 

 Zepherin Gregoire, Doyenne d'Alencon, Passe Crasanne, and 

 such like. I also think it a terrible mistake to grow too many 

 varieties in a small garden, the watching over a few fruits, each 

 of a number of different varieties when ripening, being exceed- 

 ingly difficult and anxious work. Again, to grow very early 

 Pears appears to me unnecessary ; they are not so toothsome 

 as an early Apple, and they rot in a few hours. 



The earliest Pear I would advise is Williams* Bon Chretien, 

 and it may be grown either as a standard or bush tree. This 

 may be followed by Louise Bonne, Beurre Hardy, Pitmaston 

 Duchess, and Durondeau, all of which do quite well as bush-trees 

 or as espaliers. All people have their peculiar likes and dislikes, 

 and to my mind Marie Louise is a somewhat over-rated Pear — 

 sweet, buttery, and juicy, but wanting in piquancy of flavour, 

 and, if wall-space be limited, I certainly do not think Marie 

 Louise should have any of it ; indeed its flavour is better from 

 an espalier or bush-tree, in either of which forms it does fairly 

 well, although I admit the crop is not so constant. 



The best of all Pears is Doyenne du Cornice* and if I had 

 only wall- space in my whole garden for three trees, one, if not 

 two, of them should be Doyenne du Cornice, and the other 

 Winter Nelis—&n exquisite little December Pear. Only in very 

 favoured places are either of them of any use in bush form. 



In a small garden you will certainly not be willing to spare 



* Pears differ somewhat in different seasons. This year (1894) I have 

 not had any Pear equal in flavour to Beurrt Dumont — it has been superb. 

 I have also, since this paper was written, made the acquaintance of two 

 excellent Pears, not actually new I believe, but very seldom met with, and 

 at least new to me, Le Lectier and BeurrA Dubuisson. Pear-fanciers 

 should certainly try them both. 



