THE TYSON PEAR. 



SYNONYMS. 



Watermelon, by the old residents in the vicinity of the original pear tree. 



CHARACTERS. 



Form. — Globular, rather acute pyriform ; some specimens inclining a little to obovate. 



Calyx. — Segments short, open, slightly sunk in a very shallow depression. 



Stem, — A little oblique, about 1^4 inches in length, curved, rather stout, swollen on 

 one side with a fleshy protuberance at its junction with the fruit. 



Color. — Dull yellowish green, mottled and intermingled with red, particularly on the 

 sunny side, with some russet and dark spots. 



Skin. — Slightly rough. 



Flesh. — White, very melting and juicy, fine grained. 



Flavor. — Rich saccharine, highly perfumed. 



Maturity and Use. — Early in September. — Dessert. 



Size. — Diameter from calyx to stem 2% to 2% inches. 

 Do. across 2 to 23^8 do. 



Leaf. — Oval acuminate, finely shaped and simply serrate ; petiole long and slender. 



Wood. — Light brownish grey, a little silvery and spotted, the new wood with a reddish 

 tinge ; the appearance of numerous fruit spurs in the young wood is 

 often deceptive. 



Core. — Small. 



Seeds. — Small, pointed, plump. 



HISTORY AND CULTIVATION. 



In the Magazine of Horticulture, for March, 1847, will be found an 

 interesting account, by Samuel Walker, Esq., of Roxbury, of the earliest 

 distribution of scions of this valuable Pear, amongst the cultivators in this 

 vicinity ; and the history of its origin is contained in a letter from Doctor 

 Brinckle, of Philadelphia, to the President of this Society. 



It was removed from a hedge, when about an inch in diameter, by Mr. 

 Jonathan Tyson, of JenkintOAvn, Pennsylvania, in the year 1794. His son, 

 Jonathan Tyson, Jr., wished to graft the Catharine pear upon it, but the 

 father objected, observing, that it might be a better pear. In a few years 



