350 Descriptions of Select Varieties of Pears. 



low when mature, and dotted with small russet specks : Stem, 

 long, about one and a quarter inches, slender, curved, little 

 fleshy at the base, and inserted without any cavity in the ob- 

 tuse end : Eye, medium size, open, and slightly depressed in 

 a broad, shallow basin ; segments of the calyx pointed, di- 

 verging : Flesh, white, rather coarse, melthig and juicy : 

 Flavor, sugary, pleasantly perfumed, and good ; Core, medi- 

 um size : Seeds, small. Ripe in August. 



114. Oswego Beurre'. Horticulturist, Vol. I, p. 324. 

 Read's Seedling, of some. 



We have already given some account of the origin of the 

 Oswego Beurre, {Jig- 34,) in an article in our volume for 

 1847, (XIII, p. 198,) in which we made some remarks rela- 

 tive to its name, believing its legitimate title to be Read's 

 Seedling. From the facts which were first published with the 

 description of it in the Horticulturist, it appeared that a new 

 name was given to it by Mr. Allen, who introduced it to no- 

 tice. But since that time, having conversed with him in re- 

 gard to this subject, we see no impropriety in its being called 

 the Oswego Beurre, — though we think it would have been bet- 

 ter to have left the Beurre off, and called it the Oswego pear. 

 We had learned from the Genesee Farmer that it was well 

 known by Mr. Read's neighbors as Read's Seedling ; but Mr. 

 Allen states that he gave it that name himself, when he pur- 

 chased the stock, merely to designate the variety in the nur- 

 sery ; at the same time intending to have it known to the 

 pomological world as the Oswego Beurre, under which name 

 it was first described. 



The original tree was raised from seed by the late Deacon 

 Walter Read, about twenty-four years ago. The facts, as 

 gathered from Mr. Read's family, are, that he had a rich pear 

 given to him by a friend that had but three seeds, which he 

 saved and planted, two only of which came up ; one of them 

 was destroyed by cattle ; the other grew up, and now stands 

 where it was planted. It is said to have fruited when only 

 six years old, and has continued to bear every year since, and 

 one season produced sixteen bushels of pears. It is a very 

 hardy tree, and holds its fruit well in severe gales, ripening 



