THE PEAR TREE ] 229 



of September and matures in October. Keeps well. It 

 is a fairly good pear for the amateur, and a good 

 autumn pear for the market. 



WINTER PEARS. 

 Mature in December-January. 



59. OLIVIER DE SERRES. The tree is very vigorous 

 with bronze coloured twigs, and grows to a fine size, 

 with a broad crown and spreading branches. In the 

 first years it is almost sterile, but afterwards becomes 

 very productive, yielding fine crops with great regularity. 

 The fruit is middling or large, produced singly or in 

 pairs, rather fiat or spheroidal, irregular, with a rough 

 skin, and a stout bronzed coloured stalk, slightly 

 depressed. The colour is yellow or light yellow, heavily 

 dotted and splashed bronze. The flesh is straw-coloured, 

 melting, juicy, sweet, fragrant, with a very pleasant acid 

 flavour. Grows anywhere, but prefers the shade. The 

 fruit is cut in the first week of November and matures 

 in December or January. It is a first class winter pear 

 for the amateur, and is also recommendable for the 

 market. 



60. TRIOMPHE DE TOURAINE. The tree is vigorous, 

 with a compact pyramidal habit. It is very productive, 

 and prefers a deep soil in a dry and warm situation. 

 The fruit is large or very large, usually produced in 

 pairs or triplets, perfectly pear-shaped with a smooth 

 skin and long stalk slightly depressed. The colour is 

 yellow, sometimes suffused rose towards the sun. The 

 flesh is white, melting, moderately sweet, acidulous and 

 aromatic, without any grittiness. The fruit is cut in 

 the first or second week of November and matures in 

 December or January, but keeps well until February. 

 It is a good pear for the amateur and for the market. 



61. ROBITAILLE' PERE. The tree is fairly vigorous, 

 but little productive. Prefers the shade. The fruit is 

 large, broadly top-shaped, with . a long slender stalk 



