The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-06-01
HORTICULTURE
r. WALDEN.

corning the Comice pear, and not q
few are planting it. What is it, whence
comes it and what is its value as COM
mercial pearl? are questions that are
asked quite frequently. 1t is well to
ask these questions, and especially the
last one, before planting the Comice
extensively. That some parties in Cal
ifornia have made quite success with
this pear is we'll known, but this fact
alone would not warrant its extensive
planting in other parts of the coun-
try. l have no remembrance of ever
having seen this pear, and if anyone
in the northwest has grown it, even
to limited extent, l do not know it.
If anyone has fruited it in Washing
ton, Idaho or Oregon l wish he would
report. 1t is not new pear, as many
suppose, but it's propagation in the
United States commercially is new.
The best answer to the questions
asked above that | have seen is given
in a recent issue of the Rural New
Yorker, one of the best farm papers
published in America. The following
clipping, headed New French Pear,
Doyenne du Comice," gives the answer
desired: "This fine pear is not new
in the sense of being a recent novelty.
1t is described in late editions of
Downing's Fruits of America, and had
been long propagated in Europe, where
it is a great favorite for espalier cul-
ture, but trees have only recently been
offered in this country, appearing first
in the catalogue of Ellwanger Bar
ry Rochester, N. Y. 1t is regarded as
an excellent fall ripening variety, be-
ing at it's best in October and Novem-
ber The tree is a fairly vigorous,
clean and upright grower, and COM
mences to bear when young, becoming
markedly prolific with age. The pears
are large and uniform in size, rather
more roundish in form than Anjou.
The color at maturity is yellow, shad-
ed with crimson and russell. Flesh is
white, rich and buttery, with fine,
sweet flavor. The quality is rated as
among the very best. Doyenne du
Comice should be considered worthy
of trial where fine pears are appre-
ciated and ordinary kinds succeed
The suggestion in this clipping that
this fine pear should be considered
worthy of trial. indicates that 1T has
not yet gone beyond the experiment
stage in America, unless it is in Call
fornia. By all means try it, but SO
far as l am concerned l will not plant
it extensively till l know whether it
will succeed in eastern Washington.
Perhaps here is a good place and
now good time to say something
about our treatment of any new fruit
for which great claims are made. The
rule laid down by the Apostle Paul
is a good one to go by in fruits as we'll
as in matters of religion: "Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good"
Prove, as here used, undoubtedly
means to test, to try in some way. This
motto opens the way to progress, but
at the same time saves us from being
overwhelmed with the worthless. The
man who will not test new things will
soon be an old fogy; if he does not
discriminate and discard the worthless
he will soon be ruined and can never
be a safe guide for others to follow.
In the one case the man will be as
non-progressive as an old stump; in
the other he will resemble a runaway
automobile with no one on board to ap-
ply the brakes or shut off the engine.
Fortunately the average fruit grow
er does not need to do much OF this
testing. What are our experiment sta
tons for? The word experiment"
used to qualify the word station"
shows the scope of their work. These
are testing stations. Here different
kinds of fruits, grains and vegetables
and the methods of their culture are
tested, or should be, and the results
are given to those who need this kind
of work and yet have neither the time
nor the facilities for carrying on the
ovnariuents A new thing comes up