668 THE FRUIT MANUAL. 



till February. The tree forms a handsome small pyramid, is quite 

 hardy, and an excellent bearer. As grown at Teddington it is a good 

 pear, but of rather flat flavour. " Not to be compared with Josephine 

 de Malines." 



This was raised early in the present century by M. Jean Charles Nelis, of 

 Malines, in Belgium, and was introduced to this country in 1818 by the Horti- 

 cultural Society of London. 



WINTER OKEN (Oken ; Okm d'Hiver). Fruit, below medium 

 size ; roundish. Skin, lemon-yellow, marked with patches of cinna- 

 mon-coloured russet. Eye, open, set in a round, deep basin. Stalk, 

 an inch long, inserted without depression. Flesh, buttery, melting, 

 and juicy, rich, sugary, and well flavoured. 



It ripens in November, when it rots at the core. 



WINTER ORANGE (Orange d'Hiver). Fruit, medium sized; 

 round, and somewhat flattened. Skin, at first pale lively green, 

 gradually changing as it ripens to bright yellow, covered all over with 

 numerous brown dots, and lined with russet. Eye, small and open, 

 set in a small round depression. Stalk, an inch long, thick, and 

 inserted in a small oblique cavity. Flesh, white, rather gritty, firm, 

 crisp, and very juicy, with a pleasant aromatic flavour. 



A dessert pear ; in use from February to April. The tree is vigorous, 

 bears well as a standard, and succeeds either on the pear or quince. 



Winter Poplin. See Besi de Quessoy. 



WINTER ROUSSELET (Eomselet d'Hiver). Fruit, small; pyri- 

 form, considerably resembling the Rousselet de Rheims. Skin, at first 

 bright green, changing to yellowish green as it ripens, and covered 

 next the sun with dark red, strewed all over with numerous brown 

 dots. Eye, small and open, with short rigid segments, and not at 

 all depressed. Stalk, about three-quarters of an inch long, curved, 

 and inserted without a cavity. Flesh, white, crisp, and juicy, and of 

 a fine sugary and aromatic flavour. 



A dessert pear ; ripe from January to March. The tree is vigorous, 

 succeeds well as a standard, either on the pear or quince stock, and is 

 an excellent bearer. The Horticultural Society's Catalogue makes this 

 synonymous with Martin Sec, erroneously. 



WINTER THORN (Epine d'Hiver ; Epine Rose d'Hiver}. Fruit, 

 medium sized ; obovate. Skin, smooth, of a fine green colour, becoming 

 yellowish as it attains maturity, and irregularly covered with greyish 

 brown dots. Eye, small and open, set in an even and considerable 

 depression. Stalk, an inch long, fleshy at the base, inserted without 

 depression. Flesh, whitish, melting, tender, and buttery, with a sweet 

 and agreeable musky flavour. 



A dessert pear ; ripe from November to January. The tree is 

 healthy, although not a strong grower. A good bearer, and succeeds 



