308 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



Tree vigorous, spreading, with drooping ]>ranehes, very hardy, productive. 

 Fruit ripe November-December; 2% inches long, 2Vs inches wide, obovate- 

 obtuse-pjTiform, often with sides unequal; stem 1 inch long, thick, curved; 

 cavity small, obtuse, shallow, narrow, russeted, furrowed and irregular, 

 often lipped; calyx large, partly open; lobes separated at the base, long, 

 broad, acute; basin Avide, obtuse, furrowed and sometimes corrugated; skin 

 thick and granular, tough, roughish; color lemon-yellow, marked with occa- 

 sional patches of russet and with a faint russet-red blush; dots numerous, 

 small, russet, inconspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, granular, tender 

 and melting when fully mature, juicy, rich, sweet; quality very good; core 

 large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; 

 seeds large, long, plump, acute. 



476. Winter Nelis (Fig. 131) is the standard winter pear in 

 the United States. The fruits are small, and are often so poorly 

 colored as to be unattractive, but well grown 

 they are sufficiently large for dessert fruits. 

 The flesh is tender, melting, juicy, luscious, 

 with a rich, sweet, aromatic flavor. The fruits 

 keep, ship, and sell well. The trees are small 

 with straggling wayward tops and habits of 

 growth so self-assertive that no art nor skill 

 of the pruner can bring the branches under 

 control. Notwithstanding the poorly-shaped 

 tops, the trees are often enormously produc- 

 tive. They bear almost annually: come in 

 Fig. 131. Winter , . "^ 4? • i i / i 



Nelis. bearing young; are fan-ly hardy; and are 



adapted to almost any soil or situation, pro- 

 vided that the soil is fertile ; and are as nearly immune to 

 blight as those of any other European pear. Winter Nelis was 

 raised from seed by Jean Charles Nelis, Mechlin, Belgium, early 

 in the nineteenth century. 



Tree medium in size and vigor, spreading, hardy, very productive. Fruit 

 ripe November to January; medium in size, 21/4 inches long, 2^/4 inches 

 wide, uniform in size and shape, obtuse-obovate-pyriform; stem 1% inches 

 long, thick, curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, narroAv, russeted, gently fur- 

 rowed, occasionally lipped; calyx large, open; lobes separated at the base, 

 short, broad, acute; basin shallow, obtuse, lightly furrowed; skin thick, 

 tender, roughened with russet, dull; color yellow, with many russet streaks 

 and patches, the exposed cheek blushed with light red; dots numerous, small, 

 russet, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, granular, tender and melting, 

 buttery, very juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality very good; core large, closed, 

 axile; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, acute. 



