300 sYsri':MArir pomology 



The variety tliriv(>s on llie Pacific slope where it is a valuable 

 commercial pear. The parent tree was taken from the fruit- 

 garden of the Cornice Ilorticole, An«rers, France. 



Tree vigorous, upright, dense, usually productive. Fruit ripe in Novem- 

 ber; large, 3 inches long, 2% inches wide, round-obovate, with unequal 

 sides; stem 1^4 inches long, very thick, curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, 

 narrow, russcted and wrinkled, often Avith a fleshy ring around the base of 

 tlic stem; calyx open; lobes separated at the base, long, narrow, acuminate; 

 basin wide, obtuse, furrowed; skin smooth except for the russet markings, 

 dull; color clear yellow, often with a faint russet-red blush, the surface 

 covered with patches and nettings of russet; dots many, small, dark brown; 

 flesh yellow, fine-grained, melting, tender, very juicy, sweet and vinous, 

 aromatic; quality very good to best; core closed, with clasping core-lines; 

 calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, rather plump, acute, 

 often abortive. 



464. Sheldon (Fig:. 122).— The fruits of Sheldon, while not 

 large, are of sufficient size to meet the demands of a good dessert 

 fruit. The shape is a perfect turbinate, trun- 

 cated at tlie base, and is usually symmetrical 

 and uniform. In color, the pears are very 

 distinctive, the whole fruit being more or less 

 russcted, with a handsome ruddy cheek. The 

 flesh is melting, juicy, sweet, vinous, and 

 higlily perfumed wath a pleasant musky 

 aroma. The fruits keep and ship w^ell, and 

 are esteemed both for dessert and culinary 

 Fig. 122. Sheldon, purposes. The trees, w^hile large, vigorous, 

 and hardy, are not productive, blight as badly 

 as any pear in the orchard, are reluctant in coming in bearing, 

 and seldom hold their crop well, so that in exposed positions the 

 wdnd takes great toll. This pear is a native of Huron, Wayne 

 County, New York, having sprung from seed planted about 1815. 



Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, rapid-growing, hardy, productive. 

 Fruit matures in October; large, 2% inches long, £1^ inches wide, uniform 

 in size and shape, round-obovate, symmetrical; stem % inch long, thick, 

 straight; cavity obtuse, deep, furrowed, occasionally lipped; calyx large, 

 open; lobes very broad, obtuse; basin wide, obtuse, symmetrical; skin 

 thick, granular, tender, roughish; color dull greenish-yellow with a faint 

 brownish-red blush overspread with russet nettings and streaks; dots num- 

 erous, small, russet; flesh whitish, somewhat granular, tender and melt- 



