18 
A. JB, Hood €f Co.*s Descriptive Catalogue 
Select Pears 
riie cultivation of this noble fruit is extending as its value is appreciated. The 
range of varieties is such that, like apples, they can be had in good eating condition 
from July until early spring. 
The melting, juicy te.xture, the refined liavor and the delicate aroma of the Pear 
give it rank above all other fruits except the grape. 
Ihit the Pear, like most thing's highly desirable and valuable, cannot be had with- 
out attention, labor and skill. The relative price of the apple and the Pear being 
about as one to ten, show at the same time the su[)erior value of the latter ;uui the 
greater skill required to bring it to perfection. 
One of the most important points in the management of Pears is to gather thetn 
at the proper titne. 
Slimmer Pears should be gathered at least ten days before they are ripe, and 
autumn Pears at least a fortnight. Winter varieties, if they will hang so long, may be 
left until the leaves begin to fall, 
.At the iiresent ttme the demand is for choice fruit ; inferior fruit brings .scarcely a 
remunerative price, but the best will always pay well. Pears should have the best 
kind of cultivation ; the fruit should be thinned so as not to over-produce. Care 
should be used in selecting for market only the best specimetis, and with such effort 
and system on the part of the grower there will always come a .satisfactory profit. 
'Phe Pear succeeds on most .soils, but does best on a rather heavy loam, litidded 
on its own stock it makes a standard tree, and on the French or .Angers quince a 
dwarf— the former being be.st adapted to large, permanent orchards ; the latter 
(requiring garden culture and severe pruning everv year) to smaller orchards, fruit 
yards and ga rdens. 
Dwarfs must always be (ilanted sufificiently deep to cover the junction of the Pear 
and quince two or three inches— the soil made rich and well tilled, and about one- 
half of the previous summer’s growth cut off each spring. Under this treatment 
dwarfs are everywhere successful. 1 he side branches should not be removed higher 
than one foot from the ground in Dwarfs, while .Standards may be trimmed to the 
height desired. Train in pyramidal form. Ripen the fruit in the house. Gather 
when, on gently lifting the fruit, the stem will readily separate from the limb. Place 
in a dark room until fully matured. Winter Pears may hang on the trees until there 
is danger from frost, then place in a dry cellar for maturing. 
EARLY VARIETIES 
Bartlett. Large, yellow, with a soft 
blush on the sunny side ; flesh white, 
exceedingly fine-grained and btittery, 
sweet, very juicy, w ith a highly per- 
fumed, vinous flavor. This is justly- 
esteemed one of the very best Pears in 
cultivation ; bears early and well. 
July and August. 
Boykin’s June. Below medium size ; 
yellow with a reddish brown cheek ; 
flesh w hite, sweet, not of high flavor, 
but its earliness and handsome appear- 
ance make it a desirable market varie- 
ty ; originated in Isle of Wight county, 
of this state. Season first to middle of 
July. 
Clapp's Favorite. A first-rate early 
variety, which is rapidly grow ing into 
favor ; resembles the Bartlett in ap- 
pearance, but ripens a week or ten days 
earlier ; one of the best native sorts ; 
fruit large ; skin smooth, yellowish 
green, becoming yellow, dotted and 
shaded with red next the sun ; flesh 
yellowish white, juicy and melting; of 
very good quality. Last of July. 
Early Harvest. 
