THE PEAR TREE ] 233 



sweet, with a fine flavour. The quality is variable, but is 

 generally an excellent late winter pear. It is gathered 

 in the third week of November and matures in January 

 or February. 



73. DOYENNE' D'HIVER or BERGAMOTTE DE PENTE- 

 COTE. The tree is fairly vigorous, and fruits best in 

 full sunshine along a southern wall. Resists well to 

 the wood-borers. The fruits are produced singly or 

 in pairs, sometimes in triplets. They are large or very 

 large, oval, with a short depressed stalk. The skin is 

 smooth, yellowish green. The flesh is cream-coloured, 

 half-melting, sweet, acidulous, fragrant, but often gritty 

 at the core, especially if grown in the shade. The 

 fruit is gathered after the middle of November, as late 

 as possible, and matures in January or February, and 

 keeps well until April. 



74. DOYENNE' D' ALSTON. The tree is small or 

 middling, and thrives in all situations. It is well 

 productive. The fruit is of the same shape as the 

 preceding, but is smaller. The skin is rough and thick, 

 light green, passing to pale yellow or lemon yellow 

 at full maturity, dotted or marbled brown. The flesh 

 is cream-coloured, without grittiness, melting, sweet, 

 with a pleasant flavour. The fruit is cut in the second 

 or third week of November and matures in January 

 or February. Keeps well. 



75. NOTAIR LEPIN. The tree is very vigorous and 

 requires the full sunshine and a dry situation along 

 a southern wall. The fruit is large or very large, bell- 

 shaped or irregularly pear-shaped, with a long depressed 

 stalk. The colour is yellow dotted with rust and marbled 

 fawn. The flesh is white, gritty at the core, firm, but 

 juicy and sweet, with a good flavour. Should be gathered 

 late in November, and matures in January, but keeps 

 well until April. 



76. REALE DI TORINO. The tree is very vigorous, 

 grows to a fine size, with a marked pyramidal habit, 



