T1IE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 33 



THE BEOCKWOETH PAEK PEAE. 



{With a Coloured Illustration.) 



SHE handsome pear here figured was submitted to our 

 notice in September last by Messrs. Wheeler and Son, 

 of Gloucester, who described ifc as a new variety raised 

 by Mr. William Lawrence, at Brockworth Park, near 

 Gloucester. There are so many good dessert pears 

 available in the early autumn months, that we could not have 

 assigned this a high place in the list, unless we had been quite 

 satisfied of its possession of features of distinguishing excellence. 

 It needed, however, only a fair comparison with varieties with which 

 it naturally came into competition to convince us that the Brock- 

 worth Park Pear is a distinct and valuable acquisition, and worthy 

 of a place in every garden where first-class pears are held in any 

 degree of esteem. The Brockworth Park Pear attains to a large 

 size ; in form it resembles Louise Bonne of Jersey, but differs from 

 that fruit in colour, being of a clear yellow, overspread with russet, 

 with a tinge of crimson next the sun. The flesh is fine in texture, 

 sweet, juicy, and highly aromatic. If we were required to indicate 

 the most distinctive quality of this pear, we should probably say 

 nothing of its size, or beautiful colour, or rich flavour, but refer to 

 its entire and uniform absence of grittiness as a more distinctive 

 quality than any other. Many of our finest dessert pears are gritty 

 at the core under some circumstances, but this appears to be a true 

 melting pear under all circumstances, whether on the pear stock or 

 the quince, whether in a good soil or a bad one. Its season extends 

 through September and October, when it is the finest pear at our 

 command. The tree is vigorous and hardy, very proline, and equally 

 adapted to form a bush, pyramid, standard, or espalier, according as 

 it may be treated ; but probably it will be generally regarded as a 

 model pear for a pyramid, in consequence of its naturally regular 

 growth, and disposition to form fruit-spurs early. In connection 

 with the figure of this fine pear, we are enabled to present our 

 readers with a practical paper on the culture of the pear by Mr. 

 Trussler, who has in hi3 charge at Hoddesdon a remarkably fine 

 collection, consisting for the most part of handsome pyramids, the 

 management of which is as near perfection as can be imagined. We 

 agree with him that, although fruit culture obtains more and more 

 attention every year in this country, the pear is still undervalued, 

 for while it must rank next to the pine and the grape as a dessert 

 fruit, it has the advantage of perfect hardiness, and by a judicious 

 selection of varieties, it is capable of embellishing the table, and 

 ministering to enjoyment and health, for fully nine months of the 

 year. Mr. Trussler's selection of varieties constitutes a valuable 

 guide for cultivators who wish to make or improve plantations of 

 dessert pears. S. H. 



VOL. VI.— NO. TI. 



