We received in the fall a box of pears from Mr. A. Broeck, of Santa Clara, most of them russetty, some very large, and all of them of delicious quality. It is, however, extremely difficult to distinguish the exact difference between pears grown in a distant part from those with which we are familiar on our own grounds. We selected two looking like Sheldon and Clairgeau, and sent them without explanation to one of the best "pearists" in our country, who pronounced them first-class specimens of the two varieties already named. It so happens that the grower has those two kinds on his own grounds, and is therefore fully qualified to judge of their difference. We can only congratulate California on these first-class accessions, following on the heels of Mr. Fox's great successes.