298 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



inches wide. o])ovate-obtuse-pyriform ; stem % inches long, thick; cavity 

 very shaUow and ohtuse or lacking, the flesh folded up around the base 

 of the stem and often lipped; calyx open, large; lobes narrow, acute; 

 basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, smooth or gently furrowed; skin thin, tender, 

 smooth, glossy ; color pale golden-yellow, well ])lushed on the exposed cheek 

 with solid bright red; dots numerous, small, russet, obscure; flesh yellowish; 

 fine-grained near tlie skin, granular at the center, tender and melting, but- 

 tery, very juicy, spicy and aromatic; quality very good; core closed, axile, 

 with meeting core-lines; calyx-tube conical; car])els ovate; seeds wide, 

 plump, obtuse. 



461. Vermont Beauty. — The bright-cheeked pears are as allur- 

 ing to the eye as those of any other variety, and they are almost 

 as delectable as the fruits of Seckel which they resemble in shape. 

 The crop ripens a little later and keeps longer than that of 

 Seckel. The trees are preeminent among their kind by virtue of 

 large size, rapidity of growth, productivity, and hardiness. 

 They rejoice in vigor and health as do those of almost no other 

 variety, and while hardly as productive as those of Seckel, yet 

 because of larger fruits fill the basket nearly as quickly. The 

 variety is supposed to have originated in the nursery of Benja- 

 min Macomber, Grand Isle, Vermont, more than forty years ago. 



Tree vigorous, upright-spreading, dense-topped, hardy, productive. Fruit 

 ripe in late October; medium in size, 2% inches long, 2 inches wide, obo- 

 vate-acute-pyrif orm ; stem % inch long, curved; cavity small or lacking, 

 the flesh folded around the base of the stem, occasionally lipped; calyx 

 small, open; lobes separated at the base, short, narrow, acute; basin shal- 

 low, narrow, obtuse, smooth; skin thick, tough, smooth, or with slight russet 

 markings; color clear pale lemon-yellow, with a broad and brilliantly 

 blushed cheek mottled and dotted with pinkish-red, fading at the sides into 

 pinkish-red dots; dots numerous, very small, light russet, conspicuous; 

 flesh tinged with yellow, fine-grained, tender and melting, very juicy, with 

 a rich vinous flavor; quality very good; core closed, axile, with meeting 

 core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, plump, acute. 



462. Seckel (Fig. 120). — Among the several hundred pears 

 that grow on this side of the Atlantic, Seckel stands almost 

 alone in vigor of tree, productiveness, and immunity to blight, 

 and is equalled by no other variety in high quality of fruit. 

 The fruits are small, not highly colored, but are attractive 

 because clean and trim in contour. The flesh is melting, juicy, 

 perfumed, and most exquisitely and delicately flavored, with the 



