MAT. 151 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FRUITS. 



{Continued from p. 60). 



NEW PEARS. 



Within the last few years numbers of new kinds of Pears have been 



introduced from the continent, with a favourable character appended to 



them ; but how they are likely to suit our climate remains to be proved. 



'Several have fruited here during the last five years, but our frosty 

 springs and cold shady summers have thrown difficulties in the way of 

 fully proving the merits of these new varieties, and under such circum- 

 stances it isdiff.cult to ascertain their true character. In many cases Pears 

 require an acquaintance of two or three years before an opinion can with 

 confidence be given, which is exemplified by the difference a few days 

 will make in the time of gathering to the quahty of the fruit, as well as 

 the mode of treatment when stored ; some varieties are excellent if 

 gathered early, and worthless if allowed to hang too long on the tree, 

 and with others quite the reverse ; some kinds requiring the heat of a 

 ^*inery, others a cool place in the fi'uit room to have them in perfection. 



The texture of Pears varies so much in different locahties, according to 

 soil and situation, that it would be difficult to lay doAATi rules for gathering 

 or storing any particular kind ; this much I may venture to say, that all 

 those kinds having a tendency to become niealy or a little coarse ought 

 to be gathered before parting readily from the tree. On the other hand, 

 any sort that ^\411 not soften properly should be gathered late, and stored 

 and ripened in a warm place. 



1. Reine (THiver. 



Fruit below the middle size, varying in shape from roundish to obtuse 



pyriform ; skin light brown, dotted over with small apeckg of a darker 



