PEARS. 497 



siderably covered with patches and dots of dark brown russet. On the 

 side next the sun the brown russet has a coppery red glow, and some 

 faint traces of crimson mottles and streaks shining through. Eye, 

 rather small and open, destitute of segments, and set on a level with 

 the surface. Stalk, an inch long, rather slender, inserted in a small, 

 narrow, shallow cavity. Flesh, yellowish, rather coarse-grained, and 

 gritty, sugary, vinous, and with a tine Swan's Egg flavour. 



An excellent stewing pear, almost of first-rate quality ; ripe in the 

 end of October and beginning of November. It was raised by Mr. T. 

 A. Knight of Downton Castle. 



Benedictine. See Brown Beurre. 

 Bens. See Anyelique de Bordeaux. 



BENVIE. Fruit, small, two inches long, and an inch and three- 

 quarters wide ; obovate. Skin, yellowish green, sometimes tinged and 

 strewed with dull dingy red on the side next the sun, almost entirely 

 covered with thin delicate grey russet, and thickly strewed with 

 russety dots. Eye, large and open, full of stamens, with a dry mem- 

 branous calyx, which is plaited, but not divided, and covered with a 

 white crust. Stalk, an inch and a quarter long, fleshy at the base, 

 and obliquely inserted, with scarcely any depression. Flesh, yellowish, 

 buttery, juicy, perfumed, and excellent 



A Scotch dessert pear ; ripe in August and September. The tree is 

 a free grower, and an immense bearer, so much so that the branches 

 have to be propped up during the fruit season. 



This is a very excellent variety of summer pear, adapted to the climate of 

 Scotland. It is doubtful whether it could be grown so well in the south of Eng- 

 land, and retain the same flavour which it does in the north ; and even if it did it 

 could not rival some of the varieties which are better adapted for the southern 

 counties. Still it is worthy of the notice of orchardists in the north of England 

 and south of Scotland, and I am much surprised that it has not a wider cultivation 

 than I have hitherto observed ; the only districts where I have seen it grown to any 

 extent being the Carses of Gowric and Stirling. I have noticed it also in great 

 perfection in Moray shire, and I have no doubt, if it were better known, it would 

 soon displace such inferior varieties as Crawford, Grey Goodwife, and many others 

 of a similar class. 

 / 



BEQUESNE (Bequesne M usque ; Bcllissime de Jar din; Asperye 

 d'Hiver ; Schnabelbirne ; Eselsmaul ; Eselstopf). Fruit, large and 

 handsome, even and regular in its outline, pyriform or abrupt pyramidal 

 in its shape, three inches and a half long, and three inches broad. 

 Skin, of a fine bright golden yellow colour on the shaded side, and on 

 the side next the sun it is of a bright crimson ; the surface is strewed 

 with large russet dots, which give it a rough feel when handled, and 

 with a patch of russet round the stalk. Eye, open, with rather long 

 spreading segments, and set in a shallow depression. Stalk, an inch 

 and a half long, inserted without depression on the end of the fruit. 

 Flesh, coarse-grained and rather gritty, firm and crisp, sweet, and 

 slightly perfumed. 



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