It must be confessed that the introduction of Japanese varieties has not added anything very desirable to the pear orchard, if adaptability to the table is sought. For culinary purposes several varieties have proven very serviceable and their vigor of growth, early and abundant bearing qualities will cause a demand for the kitchen garden or orchard.

The great benefit, however, to be derived from their culture will be in their use as a stock on which to work the finer varieties. Especially will this be the case in the middle and southern states. Even here in Virginia the summers are too hot and dry for the pear either on native or French stocks to succeed well; consequently owing to our long summers we frequently have the added disadvantage of a second or autumn growth.

Several years' experience has demonstrated that varieties budded on the Japanese stock have resisted the heat, held their foliage and continued to grow until October, while the same budded on French stocks ceased to grow in July, often starting again in September.

How far the increased vigor and vitality of the stock may tend to resist blight is a question; but there must be an improvement in that direction also. So far as known the blight has not attacked the Japan pear". The late Chas. Downing wrote two years since that a tree over thirty years old had never shown any signs of it, and it may reasonably be supposed that varieties worked upon it will derive resisting power from its hardiness and vigor.

To nurserymen they will prove an unalloyed blessing. They can be budded from May until October, and the work must be most unskillfully done if 98 per cent. do not grow. You may imagine, Mr. Editor, what a feeling of contentment that will give a nurseryman who has sometimes had difficulty in obtaining a stand of pear buds. But perhaps you never had that experience. Just think of it, Winter-Nelis, Beurre Gris d'Hiver and such like, making handsome trees in the nursery. Don't you say, welcome to our Japanese friends?

Richmond, Va. [ Though many suggestions have been made to use the Sand pear as a stock, there seems to be nothing on record that it has been tried. If anyone has had experience, we should be glad to know the result. As our correspondent suggests there is every probability that it would be in many respects advantageous. As a matter of fact the tree is not free from attacks of the fire blight. The Chinese quince might make a good intermediate stock. Its growth in this part of the world is more vigorous than the common quince. - Ed. G. M].