Descriptions of Select Varieties of Pears. 197 



cellentissima, which we now have under notice, are both 

 pears which had no noted reputation abroad, and indeed had 

 never been mentioned in any pomological work, to our knowl- 

 edge, until Mr. Kenrick briefly described them. They have, 

 however, proved to be two very remarkable varieties which 

 will become universally cultivated. 



The Excellentissima, i^fig- IS,) is one of the largest pears, 

 good specimens measuring six inches in length ; it has some- 

 what the appearance of the Williams's Bon Chretien, but is 

 larger and more obtuse at both ends. It is an abundant 

 bearer, and the tree grows well upon the quince. The wood 

 is yellowish olive. 



It first fruited in this country in our collection, in the fall 

 of 1847, when a small pyramidal tree produced upwards of a 

 dozen pears, the largest of which is here represented in our 

 outline engraving. It ripens at a desirable season, and keeps 

 for a long time. 



Size, large, about four and a half inches long, and three 

 inches in diameter : Form, oblong pyramidal, narrowing a 

 little to the crown, which is slightly oblique, contracted some- 

 what on one side, and tapering to the stem : Skin, fair, 

 smooth, bright yellow when mature, faintly shaded with 

 blush on the sunny side, and thickly covered with large, con- 

 spicuous, light russet specks : Stem, long, about one and a 

 half inches in length, rather slender, curved, swollen and 

 slightly fleshy at the base, and obliquely inserted with scarcely 

 any cavity : Eye, medium size, open, and little sunk in a 

 small, somewhat uneven basin ; segments of the calyx long, 

 pointed, and quite reflexed : FlesJi^ yellowish, fine, buttery, 

 melting, and juicy : Flavor, rich, sugary, and delicious, with 

 a fine aroma : Core, medium size : Seeds, large, very long 

 and pointed. Ripe in November. 



105. Las Canas. 



The Las Canas {fig. 19,) is a new pear, which first fruit- 

 ed in the Pomological Garden at Salem, three or four years 

 ago. The scions were received from the collection of M. 

 Emelien de Wael, of Antwerp, a gentleman who visited this 

 country eight or ten years ago, and who was an intimate 



