REMARKS ON WINTER PEARS. 
515 
REMARKS ON WINTER PEARS. 
BY P, BARRY, OF ROCHESTER, N, Y. 
The supposed difficulties of keeping and marketing winter 
pears, deter many from embarking extensively in their culti¬ 
vation. But these difficulties are neither so numerous nor so 
formidable as they appear to be. 
Besides, just as soon as winter pears become an article of 
commerce, or so plentiful that fruiterers in large cities can 
secure any considerable quantity, they will prepare places for 
storing and ripening them, and the grower will be able co market 
his fruits the moment they are taken from the trees ; indeed, 
that can be done now, but who has winter pears for sale ? 
Before offering any suggestions of a practical nature on this 
subject, I wish to say that winter Pears are neither worth 
gathering or storing unless they be well groivn. Small and 
imperfect specimens of summer and autumn varieties may, and 
in many cases, do ripen off to a tolerable degree of perfection, 
but not so with winter sorts generally. By good cultivation, a 
judicious thinning on the tree, &c., &c., fine, full grown, and 
fully matured specimens must be produced, and then there will 
be but little difficulty experienced in ripening them. 
I have seen trees of Vicar of Wakefield, Easter Beurre, and 
many other sorts, so overloaded that full one-third of the crop 
would no more acquire color, and become melting, juicy, and 
Sugary, than would a piece of India rubber ! 
First, then, secure well grown specimens , by good care and 
culture. I will now mention, very briefly, a few of the more 
important facts in gathering and storing : 
1st. When to Gather. —We are usually compelled to gather 
our own winter Pears in or about the last week in September, 
