New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 445 



as being superior to anything in the orchard and the tree was allowed 

 to grow; from it we have the Opalescent. 



Tree vigorous, roundish, open, productive. Fruit uniformly large to very large 

 roundish-conic, usually symmetrical, obscurely ribbed; stem short, slender; cavity 

 deep, broad, acuminate, usually symmetrical, often russeted; calyx large, open, with 

 small, obtuse, reflexed lobes; basin deep, wide, obtuse to acute, sometimes slightly 

 furrowed, symmetrical; skin thick, rather tough, glossy, takes a brilliant polish; 

 color bright pale yellow nearly or quite overspread with dark, deep red with faint 

 splashes of purplish-carmine; dots numerous, small, conspicuous, yellowish or 

 russet, often submerged, frequently mingled with irregular lines and flecks of russet, 

 especially around the basin; core small; cells usually closed; seeds medium in size; 

 flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant mild subacid, aromatic, good to 

 very good ; season November to January. 



PEAR. 



Lucy Duke is supposed to have come from a seed of Bartlett 

 fertilized by Winter Nelis. The fruit is of only medium size, made 

 in the mold of Bartlett, of a beautiful golden russet color, all in 

 all an extremely handsome pear. Its rich, juicy, spicy, melting 

 flesh makes it of the. very finest quality; for a choice dessert 

 fruit Lucy Duke can hardly be surpassed. Though originating in 

 the South, the tree is hardy, is also very productive but is only 

 moderately vigorous, resembling Winter Nelis somewhat in habit of 

 growth. The variety can be unqualifiedly recommended for local 

 and fancy markets and we believe with its rather thick skin it would 

 stand shipping well and that it might prove productive enough 

 for general planting for the market. It is said — as of what new 

 pear has it not been said — that Lucy Duke is blight proof. With 

 Winter Nelis, as nearly immune to blight as any other pear, as 

 a parent, and North Carolina, where none but pears that blight but 

 little can grow, Lucy Duke ought to be relatively immune to blight. 

 Just why this pear has been neglected is hard to see. Thomas 

 Meehan said of it twenty-five years ago, "It is the finest large 

 pear in cultivation;" while Charles Downing thought it "Not 

 quite so fine as a first class Seckel but I must aver it is not far be- 

 hind." 



Lucy Duke was grown about 1880 by Mrs. Lucy Duke of Beau- 

 fort County, North Carolina, from seed of a California Bartlett. 

 Its tree characters are so nearly like those of Winter Nelis that 

 the other parent is supposed to be that variety. 



Tree medium in size, a little lacking in vigor, upright, slightly spreading; branches 

 moderately stout, somewhat shaggy. Fruit medium in size, uniform, acute to oblong 

 pyriform, symmetrical; stem short, thick, slightly curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, 

 narrow, russetted, wrinkled and raised around the base of the stem; calyx large, open, 

 with short, broad, acute lobes; basin medium in depth and width, obtuse, symmetrical; 

 skin medium thick, tough, rough, entirely covered with a solid, deep dark russet 

 coat, changing to golden russet and mingled with flecks of russet; dots numerous, 

 small, russet, obscure; core large, closed; seeds large; flesh whitish, tinged with yellow, 

 firm, fine-grained, melting, juicy, rich, sweet, very good; season, October to early 

 November. 



