Gentlemen present being called upon to name the best winter pears, P. Barry expressed his preference for the Lawrence, Winter Nelis, and Easter Beurre. The Lawrence and Winter Nelis would ripen well in boxes in cellars, and the Faster Beurre was unquestionably the best very late keeper, but should always be grown upon the quince. J. Battey, of Clinton county, named two, the Winkfield and Winter Nelis; J. J. Thomas selected the Winhfield, Lawrence, Winter Nelis, and Easter Beurre; Dr. Wendell preferred the Winkfield, Winter Nelis, and Easter Beurre on quince. For exclusive raising on quince, P. Barry would prefer the Winhfield, Glout Morceau, and Easter Beurr'e. A few gentlemen who were acquainted with the Doyenne gris d'Hiver, regarded it as giving the highest promise of all the new winter sorts.

Some discussion occured in relation to the difficulty of sending ripened winter pears to city markets in winter, from the danger of freezing on the way. J. Battey said that the practice was now common of running freight cars, warmed artificially, for carrying potatoes from Northern New York and Vermont to the Boston market, in the depth of winter; and that no difficulty could occur in the case of winter pears. It was, however, believed by others, that as soon as winter pears should be raised in large quantities, establishments would spring up in the cities for purchasing winter pears in autumn, when they could be most safely transported to a distance, and for ripening them on a large scale for the market. The ripening process could be done more economically if performed in a wholesale manner, and could doubtless be more perfectly completed, than by any small arrangements for the purpose by the raisers of the fruit.