WINTER PEARS. 451 



is a very hardy and thrifty tree, and bears regular crops of 



pears which always ripen well, and in succession. Branches 



diverging, rather slender, light olive. 



It is a Flemish pear, and was originated, above, twenty years 



since, by M. Nelis, of Mechlin. 



Fruit of me- 

 dium size, or 

 usually a little 

 below it, round- 

 ish-obovate,nar- 

 rowed-in near 

 the stalk. Skin 

 yellowish-green 

 at maturity, dot- 

 ted with gray 

 russet, and a 

 good deal cov- 

 ered with rus- 

 set patches and 

 streaks, espe- 

 cially on the 

 sunny side. 

 Stalk an inch 

 and a half long, 

 bent, and plant- 

 ed in a narrow 

 cavity. Calyx 

 open, with stiff, 

 short divisions, 

 placed in a 

 shallow basin. 

 Flesh yellow- 

 Fig. 208. Winter Ndu. ish-white, fine 



grained, buttery and very melting, abounding with juice, of a 



rich, saccharine, aromatic flavour. In perfection in December, 



and keeps till the middle of January. 



233. WILHELMINE. Nois. Bon. Jard. Thomp. 

 Wilhelmina. Ken. 



New, and lately received from France, where it has the 

 reputation of being a late winter fruit of the first quality. 



Fruit of medium size, obovate, rather narrowed-in 'towards 

 the stalk. Skin greenish-yellow, dotted with distinct gray 

 specks, and washed with a little red towards the sun. Stalk an 

 inch and a quarter long, inserted in a slight, rather blunt de- 

 pression. Calyx large, open, set level with the surface, or a 



