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f 
XXVII. 
THE BARE AND PEAR. 
The writers on orchards of the l7th 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 
climate have been favourable, the trees have acquired an 
extraordinary size and 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; fori 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. 
