While writing on the proper ripening of pears recently, we took occasion to say that there was a great art in handling as well as in growing them, and that no doubt the uncertain reputation some varieties had came in a measure from the uncertain knowledge of those who had been growing them. A hint of this kind we gather from the Gardener's Chronicle. The very kind there referred to is pronounced no good by American growers. After reading the extract we may well ask if manner of treatment has not had something to do with the bad name:

" About the middle of September I found that I was likely to have a break in the supply of dessert pears in the early part of this month, and as I did not wish this to happen I took means to prevent its taking place. I picked a half bushel basketful of large clean fruit of that excellent variety Marie Louise while quite dry, and placed them singly on a sheet of wadding in a box, then having put another sheet of wadding over the first layer of pears, another layer of the latter followed, and so on until the box was quite full, the wadding being used to exclude air. The box was then placed on the hot-water pipes in a late vinery. After it had been there for a week or ten days I examined the contents, and found, but not to my surprise, that the pears had ripened beautifully, the fruit being full of flavor and more highly colored - that is, of a clearer and deeper yellow than I have ever known them to be when ripened in a cool fruit-room. Since then I have treated several lots of Marie Louise, of which variety we have a large quantity, in the same manner, with the best results. Fruits of this variety which we have harvested this week are quite hard, as they will remain for some weeks longer.

By this method the season of certain pears or apples fit for table may be prolonged; and when there happens to be a good supply of any variety of pear, and they are allowed to ripen on the shelves in the ordinary way in the fruit-room, the fruit cannot all be used for dessert whilst good, consequently it must either be sold or otherwise disposed of, but which, by following the artificial process of ripening, could have been consumed weeks previously".