PEARS. 197 



the most admired winter fruits of France, and highly 

 deserving of extensive cultivation ; it is sometimes 

 subject to cracking in the skin ; but this affects little 

 of the fruit growing on vigorous trees in rich cultiva- 

 ted ground. 



39. ST. GERMAINE. 



Is a fine winter pear, by many erroneously called 

 the green Chissel, (which is a summer pear) the size 

 is large, of an irregular form, generally diminished 

 towards the stem, and sometimes towards the crown 

 the skin is green till fully ripe, and very thick, whence 

 it is often called the walnut pear the stem is short 

 and generally planted in an oblique direction, the 

 crown is large and not much sunk ; the flesh is very 

 highly flavoured, rich, juicy and sprightly beyond any 

 other pear when the season is favourable; it ripens in 

 November in a close warm situation, it is frequently 

 kept till late in the winter by care and attention. It is 

 to be regretted that the tree is very subject to the fire 

 blight, so destructive of the finest and most delicate 

 pears in this country it would be highly useful to 

 the cultivators of fruit could the cause or cure for this 

 evil be discovered; whether it be founded in any pecu^ 

 liarity of our climate, or in the long duration of the 

 variety, is a point which has not been satisfactorily 



