Descriptions of Select Varieties of Pears. 483 



until last year. It is comparatively quite a new fruit. The 

 Committee who tasted the fruit considered it "well worthy 

 of cultivation." Mr. Foster kindly offered to send scions for 

 distribution in the spring of 1832. 



Soon after this, Mr. Manning introduced it into his Pomo- 

 logical Garden at Salem, fruited the tree, and disseminated 

 the variety ; but, like many other new fruits originated or 

 brought to notice at that time, when there were but few zeal- 

 ous cultivators who appreciated the importance of giving 

 new fruits a trial, it did not attract much attention. Even 

 in Mr. Manning's garden, among the numerous varieties 

 which he was then receiving from Van Mons and other sources, 

 its merits were overlooked. In Rhode Island, its cultivation has 

 been very limited, having been confined to the immediate local- 

 ity of its origin, and, up to the fall of 1846, it appears to have 

 been very little known, although Mr. Manning's son has occa- 

 sionally exhibited it, but without knowing much of its his- 

 tory or qualities. Since last year, however, when some good 

 specimens were shown by Col. Wilder, who received the sci- 

 ons of the late Mr. Manning, its excellence has been jusdy 

 appreciated, and another trial of it the present season has 

 given it a rank among the best pears. 



In general appearance, it greatly resembles the Belle Lu- 

 crative, and some specimens that we have eaten have been 

 nearly or quite as good. The tree is vigorous, hardy and 

 productive : wood yellowish, smooth, and very free from 

 specks. 



Size, large, about three inches long, and two and three 

 quarters in diameter: Form, obovate, regular, rather full at 

 the crown, and tapering to the stem : Skin, fair, smooth, green, 

 becoming yellowish green when mature, and thickly covered 

 with dark green specks : Stem, medium length, about one 

 inch long, moderately stout, curved, and obliquely inserted 

 with scarcely any cavity: Eije, medium size, open, and but 

 little sunk in a broad shallow basin ; segments of the calyx 

 broad and partially reflexed : Flesh, white, rather coarse, 

 melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, sugary and excellent, with a 

 pleasant aroma : Core, small : Seeds, medium size, dark. 

 Ripe in September. 



