The late unanimous approval of dwarf pears by the American Pomologi-cal Society, impels me to add my testimony to that of Messrs. Allen, Elliott, and others, in the late numbers of the Horticulturist and protest against such indiscriminate approval.

Seven years ago, I planted four hundred trees on well prepared ground, most of which was a sandy loam, with one or two gravelly ridges. Holes were dug two and a half feet deep by three or four wide, and filled with a carefully prepared compost, not too rich, but having all the ingredients prescribed by the experts. The course of treatment until lately was as follows. The whole ground was cultivated with various crops, and stirred up yearly, and the trees were dug about and specially manured. Some of the feebler ones were mulched. All were thoroughly trimmed and scraped, and washed yearly; and watched at times daily, by myself and a skillful gardener.

At the end of the first year about one hundred were dead, which I replaced with a hundred fine trees from Mr. Wilder, of Boston. We ascribed the death of some of these to shallow planting, and did not err in that respect again. The next year about fifty more died, and to make a long story short, they have gone off regularly at about that rate ever since. Not without remonstrance on our part and vigorous opposition; but the blight took many, and the cold winter many, and inherent obstinacy many. They would die. Those on the gravelly ridge first of all. For some years . I filled the .vacant places with the same kind of trees, but have given that up and now replace with standard trees. About 120 dwarfs remain, of which sixty are doomed to die before next spring. Perhaps there are forty vigorous trees. Several of this kind, well branched below, blew over last spring and had to be propped. Among the remainder are some which have no vitality, but only life. They have changed little since they were planted.

They have been tended so long that one hates to pull them up, although knowing they will never come to anything.

As to fruit, an average of two bushels per year will cover the whole crop. The Vicar of Winkfield and Louise Bonne de Jersey, have done the best out of about twenty kinds.

From fifteen trees, standing in the garden during the same time, I have had perhaps an average of four pears each per year. Unfortunately most of the fruit was from two trees, Suzette de Bavay, and Excellentissima, which keep well, but never ripen. A single standard Bartlett tree, about ten inches in diameter at the base, which I began to graft five years ago, has for the past three years borne as much fruit as the whole dwarf pear orchard.

I have taken some pains to inquire of people in various places which I have lately visited, as to their success with dwarfs, and will briefly give the results. In Albany, New York, Dr. Wendell has tried dwarf trees thoroughly and "would not take them as a gift." He thinks the climate too cold and variable. He has an orchard of about 1,100 standard pear trees which are growing finely. Mr. Joel Rathbone of Kenwood, has cultivated dwarfs about ten years. Has had in all, about one hundred trees under garden culture, soil a clayey loam - result, a total failure, only three or four weak trees, left no fruit worth mentioning.

Mr. G. W. Luther, has had three or four hundred trees, mostly under garden culture; has but ten or fifteen left, soil a stiff clay; many of his trees fruited well during the first year or two.

Mr. Wilson, Nurseryman, had some thousands of fine young trees (the best I have ever bought) on a stiff clay soil. They died so rapidly and gave him so much trouble, that he gave them up and does not now keep them for sale. He is on high sheltered ground, with a southern exposure.

Mr. John F. Rathbone, has had over one hundred trees during the past six or eight years. They were selected trees; average cost two dollars, about a dozen now remain, of which perhaps three are doing well. Some were on clay, and some on made soil, sheltered on every side but the north, no fruit of any consequence. In the same garden are seventeen Yirgalieu and Gansels' Bergamot, standard trees, at least fifty years old, which last year bore about two hundred bushels of the finest fruit, and this year over forty bushels.

Mr. C. P. Williams, about three miles above Albany, began the orchard culture of dwarfs some six years ago. He planted four or five hundred among a nursery of other trees, soil mostly sandy, with decomposed slate in the hollows. They grew well at first, but soon began to fail, and he has latterly given them up in despair.

Mr. L. Menaud, well known as a skillful florist, has some fine young trees. I have not seen him lately, but understand that he now thinks well of dwarfs if they are planted deeply. I know that he has lost many trees during the past cold winters.

I cannot hear of any one in Albany, who has succeeded with dwarfs for a length of time. Mr. Wm. N. Strong, has done very well with one tree, during the past season. He picked about 200 fine Flemish Beauty pears, from a dwarf tree some five or six years old, which sold in New York, at from twenty-five to fifty cents each. He has but few trees.

In Pittsfield, Massachusetts, I was told a few days since, that the leading cultivators have given up the quince stock after a fair trial. They think the climate too cold.

In Springfield, the general verdict seems to be against dwarf trees, except upon a strip of land running through the centre of the town. Upon this is Mr. B. K. Bliss, florist, who thinks favorably of the dwarf pear on the whole, for garden culture. He generally takes premiums for fine fruit.

I have watched his trees for several years, and think that he must have lost at least as many as he has saved, and that the annual loss in future will be considerable.

Rev. Dr. Ide, in the same place, is considered the most successful cultivator of dwarf pears in that region. His best trees were destroyed by fire some years ago, but the young trees which he now has are very handsome. They stand five or six feet apart, are mulched with tan bark; treated with special manures in abundance, and grow well, and bear very fine fruit. Yet Dr. Ide is not enthusiastic for the quince root, except for some special kinds. He has found that with some kinds, the pear throws out roots above the point of junction with the quince, and the quince root generally dies. Hence, the question arises why not plant pear standards at once! He thinks that with the same treatment, fruit can be got nearly as soon from the pear root as the quince. His original soil was mostly sand, a little loamy.