PEARS. 471 



The tree is a very abundant and regular bearer, and succeeds well as 

 a standard or pyramid, whether on the pear or the quince stock. It is 

 a strong and robust grower. 



This variety is nearly allied to the Rousselet de Rheims, to which it bears some 

 resemblance in the habit of the tree, as well as in the appearance of the fruit. It 

 is called Belle fertile from its great productiveness ; and it is said that Louis 

 XIV., when he saw the tree covered with such a quantity of fruit, exclaimed, " Ah ! 

 raon Dieu ! " hence the origin of its name. I have preferred here the original 

 name to that of D' Amour, adopted in the Horticultural Society's Catalogue, and l>y 

 which, Duhamel states, it is known in some parts of France, to prevent any con- 

 fusion between this and the Tresor of Duhamel, which is also called D'Amour. 



Albert. See Beurrc (V Ainanlis. 

 Albertine. See Doyenne Boussoch. 



ALEXANDER. Fruit, medium sized ; irregularly obovate, inclining 

 to oblong, somewhat one-sided. Skin, yellowish green, dotted, striped, 

 and splashed with russut, and slightly tinged with red next the sun. 

 Eye, small and partially closed. Stalk, slender, rather long, curved, 

 fleshy at its insertion, and placed in a moderately deep cavity by the 

 side of a fleshy lip. Flesh, white, a little coarse and gritty, very juicy, 

 melting, sugary, and rich. 



An American pear, said to be of good quality. Ripe in October. 



ALEXANDRE BIVORT. Fruit, medium sized ; turbinate, inclin- 

 ing to pyriform, even and regular in its outline. Skin, smooth at first, 

 of a clear, lively, shining green, marked with a few brown spots and 

 sprinkled with russet, and with a brown russet patch round the stalk ; 

 as it ripens it assumes a yellow colour. Eye, small, irregular, set in 

 a wide shallow basin. Stalk, about three-quarters of an inch long, 

 straight and stout, inserted in a small narrow cavity, Flesh, fine- 

 grained, tender, buttery, and melting ; white with a rosy tinge, very 

 juicy, sugary, and finely perfumed, and with a flavour like that of 

 Green Chisel. 



A first-rate dessert pear ; ripe in the end of December and beginning 

 of January. 



Kaised from seed by M. Berckmans, and in 1848 was named in honour of M. 

 Alexandre Bivort, the Belgian pomologist. 



ALEXANDRE DE RUSSIE (Kaiser Alexander; Beurre Alex- 

 andre). Fruit, above medium size, three inches and a half long, and 

 two inches and three-quarters at the widest part. It is somewhat of a 

 pyramidal shape, and slightly curved, and diminishes more towards 

 the stalk than the eye ; the surface is very uneven and knobbed. 

 Skin, smooth, of a light green colour at first, but becoming yellowish 

 green as it ripens, and with a tinge of brownish red on the side which 

 is exposed to the sun, where, also, it is wholly or partially covered 

 with fine pale brown russet, either in streaks or large patches. Eye, 

 open, with generally stiff and long segments, set in a shallow and 

 narrow basin, surrounded with rather prominent plaits. Stalk, stout 



