220 [ THE PEAR TREE 



30. ANGELICA OF MALTA. This is an ancient 

 local pear, and is extensively grown for the market. The 

 tree is very vigorous and attains a large size in a few 

 years, and when full grown its fertility is astonishing, 

 large trees being known to produce 200 kilog. of fruit or 

 more. It thrives in all situations, but prefers the full 

 sunshine and a deep soil moderately moist. Unfortuna- 

 tely it is very liable to the attack of the tree borers, 

 which seem to prefer this tree to many others, and 

 quickly kill it. The fruit is produced singly or in clusters 

 of 2 to 6 or more. It is middling or large, irregularly 

 top-shaped, often rough, with bumps and depressions ; 

 the "eye" or calyx is depressed, the stalk is long and 

 slender, but fleshy at its insertion on the fruit, The 

 colour is golden yellow, often with a large deep red flush 

 towards the sun, with many dots of a deeper red. The 

 flesh is yellowish, thick, but half-melting, very sugary and 

 well perfumed. The fruit is cut in the 2nd or 3rd week 

 of September, and sometimes towards the close of that 

 month, and matures in October and November. Keeps 

 long in good condition. This is an ideal fruit for the 

 market as well as for the amateur, and is deservedly 

 popular. A form producing larger fruits of the same 

 shape, and maturing later, is known as Angelica jebsa or 

 A. imuaHhra, the hard Angelica or late Angelica, is 

 sometimes grown but is not much esteemed. 



31. ANGELICA OF ROME. The tree is middling or 

 dwarf, but reaches a fine size when grown on pear-stock. 

 It thrives well in the sun, but better in the shade. The 

 fruit is middling, sometimes large, top-shaped, smooth, 

 light yellow, almost entirely shaded or blotched fawn or 

 bronze. The flesh is white, creamy, melting, sweet, deli- 

 ciously acid and highly fragrant. Should be cut in the third 

 week of September and matures in October or November. 

 Keeps fairly well. It is an excellent fruit for the amateur. 



32. ANGELICA OF PADOVA. The tree is delicate, 

 rather short-lived, and little productive. The fruit 



