VARIETIES OF PEARS 



299 



Fig. 120. Seckel. 



curious character of having much of its spicy aromatic flavor 

 in the skin. The reddish-brown color of the 

 fruit is another distinguishing character of 

 Seckel. The trees are as hardy as those of 

 any other pear, and are remarkable for their 

 large, compact, broadly pyramidal tops. The 

 tree is further distinguished by its short- 

 jointed,, stout, olive-colored wood, and its 

 habit of bearing fruits in clusters on the ends 

 of the branches. There are several faults of 

 fruit and tree: fruit and foliage are suscept- 

 ible to scab; the pears are too small for com- 

 mercial canning; and the trees are late in 

 coming in bearing. Seckel is supposed to have originated as a 

 chance seedling soon after the Revolutionary War near Phila- 

 delphia, Pennsylvania. 



Tree very large, very vigorous, upright-spreading, dense-topped, hardy, 

 very productive, long-lived. Fruit ripe in October; small, 2 inches long, 

 lYs inches wide, uniform in size and shape, obovate-pyriform^ symmetrical; 

 stem ^2 inch long, short, thick, often curved; cavity obtuse, with a shallow 

 narrow depression, symmetrical; calyx small, partly open; lobes separated 

 at the base, short, variable in Avidth, acute; basin shallow, narrow, strongly 

 obtuse, symmetrical; skin smooth, dull; color yelloAvish -brown, lightly 

 marked with pale russet and often with a russet-red cheek; dots numerous, 

 very small, russet or grayish; flesh white, with a faint tinge of yellow, 

 slightly granular, melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet, with an exceedingly 

 rich, aromatic, spicy flavor; quality very good to best; core small, closed, 

 with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, conical; seeds small, short, not 

 very plump, obtuse. 



463. Doyenne du Cornice (Fig. 121). 



Cornice. — The fruits are very large, smooth, 

 except for russet markings, clear handsome 

 yellow, sometimes brightened by a delicate 

 blush, with yellow fine-grained flesh, which is 

 tender, melting; very juicy, sweet, piquant, 

 perfumed. The trees make a poor growth in 

 the nursery; must be humored in soil, cli- 

 mate, and care; they are subject to blight; 

 while usually productive, they are not al- 

 ways so ; lastly, they are below the average in hardihood to cold. 



Fig. 121. Doyenn§ 

 du Cornice. 



