52 THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



A nurseryman named Williams brought it out. In 1799 

 one Enoch Bartlett, of Dorchester, near Boston (U.S.), 

 introduced it into America, and now it is cultivated so 

 widely that it is on sale for three or four months in the 

 year, and exported also to England. Seckle, a good 

 October pear, but small, we have from the States ; the 

 original tree is said to be near Philadelphia, about loo 

 years old. Clapp's Favourite (August) comes from 

 Dorchester, Massachusetts ; Dana's Hovey, " a verit- 

 able sweetmeat " (November and January), also comes 

 from the same State. It is sometimes called Winter 

 Seckle. Most of our good sorts are grown in the U.S., 

 and Californian pears are now coming to us in great 

 quantities. They are sent in wooden boxes, properly 

 graded and packed. Every fruit is in paper, with the 

 name of the grower on it, and the name of the variety 

 on each box. The excellent quality and careful pack- 

 ing ensure a good demand at a high price. Good 

 American sorts are Lawson or Comet, Block's Acme, 

 Sugar Pear, Bloodgood, and others. Our growers may 

 learn a useful lesson from Californian pears in the 

 London market. 



NOTES ON VARIETIES 



Emile d'Heyst is said to be equal to Marie Louise in 

 quality, to be hardier, and to be a better bearer. It is 

 not a grand grower on the Quince, nor does the fruit keep 

 long (October, November). 



Althorp Crassanne is often a first-rate pear. Mr 

 Knight (very eminent a century ago) called it the best of 

 all. It lasts from October to December. The tree is 

 hardy, and a good bearer, but the fruit is hardly large 

 enough for exhibition. 



Brockworth Park, almost identical with Bonne d'Ezee, 

 was once a pear of great repute, being large and showy, 

 but the flesh is coarse (November). 



