164 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



Flemish Beauty, and it appeared then to be in pretty general cultivation 

 in England. Styling it Barnard, Hovey wrote, in 1851, that Flemish 

 Beauty " had been known in Dorchester, Massachusetts, for nearly twenty 

 years," so that it is to be inferred that the variety was introduced to this 

 country prior to 1830 and possibly by some one by the name of Barnard. 

 The rapid distribution of this pear was promoted by Van Mons who gave 

 numerous grafts of it to his friends and correspondents. The fact that the 

 variety has over sixty synonyms may be taken as some testimony to its 

 popularity and excellence. At the first meeting of the American Pomo- 

 logical Society held in 1848, Flemish Beauty was placed in the list of pears 

 recommended for general cultivation, a place it has since retained. 



Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading, with drooping branches, hardy, productive; 

 trunk smooth; branches thick, shaggy, bright reddish-brown, with dull gray scarf-skin, 

 large lenticels; branchlets thick, short, with short intemodes, reddish-brown, smooth, 

 glabrous, with many large, raised lenticels. 



Leaf-buds large, long, obtuse, pointed, nearly free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 

 3^ in. long, if in. wide, oval, thick, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate; 

 petiole 2 in. long, usually slender. Flower-buds very large, long, conical or pointed, very 

 plump, free; flowers i\ in. across, in dense clusters, usually 7 buds in a cluster; pedicels 

 I J in. long, slender, slightly pubescent, light green. 



Fruit ripe in late September and early October; large, nearly 25 in. long, 2j in. wide, 

 uniform in size and shape, roundish or obovate-obtuse-pyriform, symmetrical, with nearly 

 equal sides; stem i^ in. long, thick; cavity acute, shallow to deep, narrow, slightly russeted, 

 a little furrowed; calyx open; lobes partly separated at the base, short, obtuse; basin shal- 

 low, narrow, abrupt, symmetrical; skin thick, tough, roughish, dull; color clear 3'ellow, 

 overspread on the exposed cheek with a dotted and marbled red blush; dots numerous, 

 russet, small, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, becoming melting and tender, 

 granular, juicy, sweet, aromatic, with a slight musky flavor; quality very good. Core 

 closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds rather long, plump, 

 acute. 



FONDANTE DE NOEL 



I. Mag. Hort. 21:267, &g. 9. 1855. 2. Ann. Pom. Beige T.67,P\. 1859. 3. Pom. France 1: No. 14, 

 PL 14. 1863. 4. Mas Le Verger 1:65, fig. 39. 1866-73. 5. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 764. 1869. 

 6. Hogg Fruit Man. 580. 1884. 



Belle apres Noel. 7. Mcintosh B*. Card. 2:459. 1855. 



Weihnachtsbirne. 8. Dochnahl Fiihr. Obslkunde 2:62. 1856. 9. Ma.thieu Nom. Pom. 296. 1889. 



Belle de Noel. 10. Leroy Did. Pom. 1:209, fig. 1867. 



It is doubtful whether this rather rare European pear can be purchased 

 from American nurserymen now, but possibly it may be had, and at least 

 it could be re-propagated from old trees. The fruit is distinguished by its 

 trim, top-shaped form and handsome coat, usually enlivened with a dull 



