304 



SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



long, 2% inches wide, roundish-dljlate, slightly coniciil toward the apex; 

 stem % inch long, slender; cavity acute, deep, narrow, smooth, sometimes 

 lipped; apex large, open; lobes separated at the base_, long, acute; basin 

 very shallow, narrow, obtuse, occasionally wrinkled ; skin thin, tough, 

 smooth, dull; color light green, without blush; dots very small, russet or 

 greenish, very obscure; flesh greenish-white, firm, crisp, rather dry, sub- 

 acid; quality medium to poor; core large, closed, axile, with meeting core- 

 lines; calyx wide, conical; carpels ovate; seeds variable in size, wide, flat, 

 obtuse. 



Section TFT. Winter Peaks 



Group (). Pears with Stem-end Acute 



470. Buerre Clairgeau (Fig. 127). Clairgeau. — Buerre Clair- 

 treau is one of the mainstays in American pear-growing because 

 of excellent tree characters. The fruits, while 

 handsome, are of mediocre quality. The tree 

 is second only to that of Buffum in vigor, 

 liealth, and productiveness. They bear young 

 and usually annually. The fruits are large, 

 smooth, uniform in shape, wdth a handsome 

 ground color of rich yellow at maturity and 

 a bright crimson cheek. Here praises end, for 

 the handsome coat covers rather coarse granu- 

 lar flesh which is sometimes good but more 

 often commonplace. The core is very large, 

 and the flesh surrounding it often softens pre- 

 maturely. The pears are heavy and often 

 drop before maturity ; hence the trees should not be set in wind- 

 swept situations. The original tree of Buerre Clairgeau appears 

 to have grown by chance about 1828 at Nantes, Prance. 



Tree vigorous, unusually upright, dense, slow-growing, hardy, productive, 

 a regular bearer. Fruit in season late October and November; large, 3% 

 inches long, 2% inches wide, obovate-acute-pyriform, with a long tapering 

 neck, uniform iu shape; stem % inch long, short, very thick and fleshy; 

 cavity obtuse, very shallow and narrow, with practically no depression, 

 fleshy around the base of the stem, russeted, lipped; calyx open, large; 

 lobes separated at the base, long, broad, acute or acuminate; basin shal- 

 low, narrow, obtuse, furrowed, often compressed; skin thick and granular, 

 tough, smooth, glossy; color yellow, with bright pinkish-red blush, nearly 

 crimson in highly colored specimens; dots many, small, russet, conspicuous; 

 flesh white, quite granular, tender and melting, very juicy, sweet, aro- 



•iG. i: 



Buerre 



Clairgeau. 



