Among the few varieties which I had an opportunity of observing and tasting last season, were several of those sorts which have not yet become so widely known as to be considered old, respecting which I myself am always glad to obtain information, and assume that the same desire exists with others of your "parish".

The extremely unfavorable season undoubtedly detracted much from the excellence of some sorts, and rendered them smaller than they would otherwise have been. Not less marked was its influence on the gross amount of the crop, leaving many trees which should have fruited without a single specimen, and others with but enough for a taste. Still individual trees were finely loaded, among which I now remember a Doyenne d'Ete, a Flemish Beauty, a Bartlett, and a Beurre d'Anjou, which were perfect spectacles of fruitfulness. The' two former were standards (planted in 1849), the others dwarfs.

The Beurre d'Anjou I was well pleased with. Although not quite so high-flavored as some of the specimens which I have seen in Boston (and much smaller owing to the large crop), its nearly uniform size, fine appearance, and profusion of fruit, with the fine growth, and habit of the tree, formed a combination of good points much to be desired. I have fruited it two or three times before, but in small quantities, and generally under unfavorable circumstances. I find that trees received for Doyenne Boussock have proved to be of this variety. Not a very near approach to correctness in nomenclature.

Fruit, rather large, irregular obovate, nearly covered with dull brownish red, somewhat russeted, stalk short, stout, and curved. Calyx small, open, basin deep and regular, flesh a little coarse, very juicy, melting, and subacid. Very good. Last of November.

Beurre St. Nicolas (or Duchesse d'Orleans) promises to prove a fine fruit. I ripened but one specimen last season. It served, however, to remind me of former fine specimens. Fruit large, oblong-pyriform, greenish-yellow, stalk 1 1/2 inches long, stout, curved. Calyx closed, basin shallow and irregular. Flesh not very fine grained, juicy, melting, and subacid. Last of September. Very good.

Beurre Superfine is another fruit of fine promise. Having had but a specimen or two at a time, I cannot speak of its bearing qualities with certainty, but have the impression that it is a little shy.

Fruit large, pyriform, dull yellow, slightly russeted. Stalk 1 1/2 inches long, stout, curved. Calyx very small, basin narrow and rather deep. Flesh somewhat coarse, melting, and subacid. First of October. Very good.

Colmar Precoce fruited last year for the first time, and appears to be identical with the Jaminette.

Columbia does not fulfil its promises. A few years since the specimens were large, fair, handsome, and good. Of late they are of moderate size, and crack badly - not like the cracking of the White Doyenne, but with long and large cracks penetrating nearly to the core, as I have seen Van Mons Leon le Clerc and other sorts affected.

Doyenn6 d'Et6, as I before stated, bore a large crop, and the fruit was of better quality than I have usually found it. It grows finely, forming a vigorous upright tree, nearly as erect as a mountain ash. I have rarely been able to color it well, and have scarcely ever seen it so brilliant as it has been figured in colored plates.

Fruit small, roundish-turbinate, greenish yellow with a slight blush in the sun. Stalk long, slender, calyx small, erect, basin shallow. Flesh a little gritty, juicy, melting, and sweet. Very good. Middle of August.

Duchesse de Berri (d'Ete) improves upon acquaintance. I at first did not think it any acquisition, but it has since proved to be quite good, although from its small size and later maturity than the last described sort, I do not consider it of much value. Fruit small, turbinate, yellow, with a little russet. Stalk short, rather stout. Calyx small, open, basin shallow and indistinct. Flesh coarse, melting, very juicy and sweet. Very good. Ripe about the tenth of September.

Fortunee fruited for the first time, and proved a larger fruit than I had supposed it to be, being about the size and shape of a large Belle Lucrative. It ripened in the latter part of December, I think, and was of good quality; but having neglected to make any memoranda respecting it, I am unable to describe it.

Oswego Beurre fruited profusely, and most of the specimens were of fine size, some of them very large; but notwithstanding its reputation of being a fine pear, not one was eatable. This has now fruited for several years, and I have never yet found a specimen which I could rank higher than "indifferent/' a fact for which I am unable to account.

Fruit large, roundish, sometimes rather flattened, stalk short, stout, inserted in a deep cavity. Calyx rather large and open, basin deep and rather wide, skin bronze yellow, considerably russeted Flesh coarse, wanting in juice, astringent, and scarcely edible. November.

St. Andre fruited well, and proved good - not so fine, however, or so large, as I had been led to expect. It being its first year of bearing, I hope for an improvement in both respects.

Suzette de Bavay, I verily think, is rather a humbug. It is very small, the best specimens being about as large as Duchesse de Berri, the smaller ones mere buttons. It keeps pretty well, and is of fair quality, having a very sweet, pleasant flavor; but for a winter pear its exceeding smallness renders it undesirable.

Swan's Orange is an annual disappointment to me. Its large handsome fruit leads one involuntarily to expect an interior of at least fair quality, corresponding in some degree with the prepossessing external appearance; but all the specimens that I have tasted have the invariable insipid acidity which I have become persuaded belongs to the variety. If it is anywhere else of "very good" quality, I should be gratified to know it.

Fruit quite large, obovate, tapering obtusely to the stalk, and somewhat irregular. Stalk generally short, stout, and obliquely inserted. Calyx pretty large, partially closed. Skin fine golden yellow, with russet streaks and patches. Flesh coarse, juicy, not very melting, and of a quite acid flavor. Indifferent. October.

Triomphe de Louvain is a pear which I have not before seen, and I do not remember to have heard it named. It bore a most abundant crop, and is externally a rather prepossessing fruit, having much of the appearance of the Fulton. Fruit medium, or rather large, roundish, considerably flattened. Stalk quite short and stout. Calyx large, open, with short erect segments. Skin dark brownish russet, paler in the shade. Flesh coarse, rather dry, and of a flat, indifferent flavor. October.

Bateau Oris., or Beurre de Louvain, is an enormously large fruit, somewhat resembling in form and size the Catillac, but with a dark green skin, covered with large rough dots, and much russeted. It keeps quite late, and cooks finely; but is quite as inedible as a turnip in a raw state, the flesh being hard, dry, and tough. It is fit for cooking all winter; but I have never succeeded in ripening one. It is somewhat addicted to cracking.

Triomphe de Jodoigne has fruited two or three times, but has invariably been blown from the tree before reaching full maturity.

Van Assche has proved, so far, quite small and not very enticing, either in appearance or flavor. The tree is not in a very vigorous state, however, and the fruit may improve with the health of the former.

Fruit medium size, sometimes quite small, roundish-turbinate, greenish yellow, dotted, and tinged with red. Stalk of moderate length, rather slender, inserted in a slight cavity. Calyx small, open, basin wide and shallow. Flesh coarse, a little gritty, tender, juicy and sweet. Good. October the first Vicompte de Spoelberch has not yet come up to its reputation. It has never proved better than "good," and rarely that, sometimes being quite in-ferior.

Fruit scarcely medium size, obtuse pyramidal, generally one sided, pale yellowish green. Stalk long, curved. Calyx small, closed, basin wide, rather shallow. Flesh juicy, not very melting, with a pleasant but rather insipid flavor. Indifferent. November.