Descriptions of Select Vai^ieties of Peai's. 59 



appearance, having a dull green skin, with rarely more than 

 a bronzy shade of red, it cannot claim much on the score of 

 beauty ; but it has a cool, refreshing juice, which, to lovers of 

 such pears as the old St. Germain, the Beurre d'Aremberg, 

 &c., will always give it a place among the best of our autumn 

 pears. The last season, they were truly delicious, and, though 

 we made a drawing and description of specimens given to us by 

 the late Mr. Manning, who considered it a '• first rate" variety, 

 in 1841, we were not aware of its real excellence until we 

 had the fruit from our own trees last year. 



Fig. 6. Bonchritien Fondante. 



The origin of the Bonchretien Fondante is unknown ; but, 

 according to Lindley, it is a Flemish variety, probably raised 

 by Yan Mons, which first fruited in England, in the Garden 

 of the London Horticultural Society. It first bore here with 

 Mr. Manning, in 1837, since which period it has become con- 

 siderably disseminated, though not so extensively as its mer- 

 its deserve. The tree is vigorous, hardy, and productive. 



