234 



THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



wide, uniform in size and shape, roundish-obovate to obtuse-obovate-pyriform, quite 

 symmetrical except for the unequal sides; stem if in. long, thick, curved; cavity obtuse, 

 shallow, narrow, russeted, gently furrowed, occasionally lipped; calyx large, open; lobes 

 separated at the base, short, broad, acute ; basin shallow, obtuse, lightly furrowed, symmet- 

 rical; skin thick, tender, roughened with much russet, dull; color yellow with a tinge of 

 green, dotted with grayish-russet and with many russet streaks and patches on the exposed 

 cheek which is usually blushed with bright red; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; 

 flesh yellowish-white, quite granular at the center and underneath the skin, tender and 

 melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, 

 axile, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, 

 plump, acute. 



WORDEN SECKEL 



i. Rural N. Y. 50:888, figs. 326 and 327- 189'- *• Thomas Am. Fruit Cult. 465, fig. 675. 1897. 

 3. Franklin Davis Nur. Cat. 23. 1901. 4. Budd-Hansen Am. Hort. Man. 2:268. 1903. 5. Banker 

 Cat. 19. 191 5. 



Worden. 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat. 41. 1909. 



Possibly no pear has been more widely advertised during the last 

 quarter-century than Worden Seckel. Nurserymen and pear-growers alike 

 describe it as a better variety than Seckel, and say that it ought to take 

 the place of that good old sort of which it is a seedling. But it is not 

 driving Seckel out in most pear regions, though in many it is considered 

 the more profitable pear of the two. It is a splendid pear, but falls short 

 of Seckel in not being quite as dependable in different soils and climates; 

 the trees are not as vigorous, though just as productive in many places, 

 they are not quite as resistant to blight, and the fruits are not as high 

 in quality. On the other hand, the pears are larger and handsomer. Well 

 grown, the fruits of Worden Seckel are voluptuously handsome in form 

 and color. The pears are smooth, glossy, trim of contour, well turned, 

 unusually uniform, with a beautifully blushed cheek on a handsome green 

 and yellow background. The accompanying illustration does not do the 

 pear justice in size or color and shows a lack of symmetry not usually 

 present. When the crop is thinned so that the fruits attain their largest 

 size, no pear is handsomer or will bring a higher price on the fruit-stands. 

 The crop comes in with Seckel, but keeps longer, lasting until December in 

 cold-storage. The tree is very hardy and bears young, but does poorly 

 in the nursery. Commercial growers should give this variety a thorough 

 test, and amateurs everywhere will find it worth planting. 



Worden Seckel, as its name suggests, is a seedling of Seckel, raised by 

 Sylvester Worden, Minetto, Oswego County, New York, about 1881. 

 Smiths and Powell, Syracuse, New York, placed it on the market about 



