Mr. Field,living on Long Island, who wrote a book* on Pear Culture, a while ago took particular pains to assail me personally in the New York Tribune, to establish his theory. I could show some precious extracts of volunteer letters which I have received from those familiar with his experiments in "Dwarf" culture. Not a solitary fact did he establish of "the profits" of pear growing.

In subsequent numbers of the Horticulturist we have the testimony of F. R. Elliott, an experienced nurseyman and pear grower for many years, in Cleveland, Ohio. I was told, not three months ago, by a gentleman who is the proprietor of a large peach orchard and vinery near that city, and who has been eminently successful in the profits and perfection of his fruits from them, that he had tried more than a thousand Dwarf pears, and after the utmost pains-taking, and the best cultivation, they had utterly failed. So with Mr. Huidekoper, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, all sustaining my views. And here I will mention that I have received several letters from different parts of the United States, written by gentlemen before unknown to me by name, who have tried the dwarfs faithfully and well, as they state, and utterly failed in success, thanking me for the courage I had shown in daring to deny the stories so industriously put forth by many of those engaged in propagating the trees. But the crowning judgment which was to chastise my temerity effectually and forever on this momentous topic, was reserved for a meeting of the "American Pomological Society," holding its biennial session in the city of New York, last September. It was an assemblage of good spirits - of the savans, the philosophers, the amateurs, the nurserymen of the country.

On taking the worthy President's opening address in my hands, which I received in a neatly printed pamphlet within twenty-four hours after it was delivered, I found that my pear article in the May Horticulturist had even troubled the equanmityof Col. Wilder, a gentleman for whom no one has a higher personal regard, or a more profound respect for his pomological labors and attainments than myself - and eleven pages of that excellent document were devoted to the discussion of the Pear and its "profitable" cultivation, particularly the Dwarf, and in which the oft and long told catalogue of one and another man's pear trees and successful bearing, is repeated. Now I submit, in all humility, that it is an unequal battle, to draw up in such formidable array the luxuriant plantations which decorate the heights of Dorchester, the vales of Roxbury, the plains of Brookline, the gardens of Watertown, and all the " hill country" round about Boston, where pears, like their own "cod fish and pumpkins," in State house and on steeple, are a long-time Institution, in one solid battery against an obscure adventurer of the back country, in the field of controversy, like myself.

Yet such has proved the fortune of war with me and my poor endeavors, like many another vanquished hero in war and argument.

* Pear Culture; a Manual for the Propagation, etc., of the Pear Tree. By THOS. W. FIELD. New York: A. 0. Moore.

This address no sooner over, the Society went hotly at work discussing the subject both to the length and depth of its merits; and what sort of work they made of it we will see.

1 have, at hand, two very full reports of the discussion on the pear, - its varieties, cultivation, and results, - together with the names of its participants. One is in the Horticilturist, the other in the "Rural New Yorker," whose "reporter," if his own assertions are to be taken, never makes a mistake. These two documents, although differing in some minor particulars, give us probably the upshot of the remarks on that occasion; and to arrive at an approximation of the correctness of their conclusions, it is only necessary to say that quite four-fifths of those taking part in the conversation were either those who grow dwarf pear trees for sale, or were directly interested in the sale of trees throughout the country. It is scarcely necessary therefore to say that the dwarfs "had it" on nearly every vote, "without a count" Yet, in examining the opinions thus offered, it is easy to one familiar with former proceedings of the same body, to see that many opinions and fruits previously "set up" and established as law, were most summarily "knocked down," and thrown aside as "fogyish" and absurd.

For instance: "Mulching," which a few years ago was the panacea for all ills of condition or growth to which most of our fruits, from a strawberry to a pear, particulary the dwarf, were heir to, was now as decidedly con-demned as it had been in past time commended. Some grew pears in grass, - my unpardonable sin, although the earth was kept open, and manured, and spaded for several feet around my trees - with entire success, and they disliked plowing and spading as cutting off the fibrous roots; while others insisted that grass was fatal to all good treatment, and bearing, and nothing-but "the shovel and the hoe" was permissible in "perfect culture." One fruit which was perfect and "best," a short time since, was now cast aside as "cracked," and "blighted;" while another which "promised well," and with such indorsement had been sent by the propagators and dealers broadcast over the country, was now emphatically discarded. And so, throughout the chapter, confirming all my own written opinion that the pear is capricious in its soil,, position, climate, and treatment, - particularly the dwarf.

The ipse dixit, too, of the Society upon all doubters, past and future, according to one of the reports before me, stands thus recorded:

"The President said, all who had spoken thus far were in favor of pear culture and of dwarf pears. If there was another side in this Convention he would like to hear from it. After some moments of suspense, no one responded to this invitation.

"Silence gives consent." There's a decision for you, fogies and pear croakers; and who dare question the argumentum ad hominum of such a dicta! Here is another, both wordy and windy enough: