THE SWAN'S ORANGE PEAR. 



Swan's Orange. Genesee Farmer, vol. vii. p. 25. 



Onondaga, Horticulturist, vol. i. p. 322. 



Onondaga Seedling, of some Collections in Western New York. 



fNo pear of recent introduction can claim so high a 

 rank as the Swan's Orange. Possessing all the hardy 

 and vigorous qualities of our hardiest native varieties, 

 the fruit is not only of the lai'gest size, but unsurpassed 

 in its beauty, and unequalled in excellence. The Van 

 Mons Leon le Clerc has obtained, and justly, a high 

 reputation, and has been designated as the " best pear 

 in the world;" yet Swan's Orange, considered in all its 

 quahties, far surpasses it ; and, if that epithet belongs 

 to any variety, it is to the last named pear. 

 In the Magazine of Horticulture, (vol. xiii. p. 243,) 

 we have given a full account of this fine fruit, in which its history has 

 been traced back to 1806, at which period scions were carried from 

 Farmington, Conn., by Mr. Henry Case, of Onondaga, N. Y. In 1808, 

 Mr. Case removed his tree to Liverpool, where he then resided, but it 

 died in 1823. Previous to its death, however, scions had been disti'ib- 

 uted; and, among those who received them, was Dea. Joseph Swan, of 

 Onondaga Hollow. About ten years ago, Mr. Swan's son, who resided 

 in Rochester, carried some of the pears to that city for exhibition, and, 

 from its great beauty as well as superior quality, the Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, in compliment to Mr. Swan, called it Swan's Orange, its origin then 

 being wholly unknown. 



It was not, however, until within a very few years, that its excellence 

 became well known around Rochester, and more recent still that cultiva- 

 tors have generally become acquainted with it. Last autumn, some 

 beautiful specimens were sent us from Rochester, the largest of which 

 measured twelve inches in circumference, and weighed thirteen ounces. 



The whole aspect of the tree denotes vigor and health : it gi'ows well 

 upon either the pear or quince stock. 



Tree. — ^Very vigorous, upright in its growth, forming a handsome 

 head ; on young trees the lateral shoots are horizontal. Our vignette 

 is from a tree grafted in 1843, now nine feet high, and bearing fruit. 



Wood. — Clear olive, stout, rather short-jointed, and dotted with large, 

 grayish specks ; old wood dark olive ; buds large, long, tapering to the 

 point, cUverging, with prominent shoulders : Flower-buds medium size. 

 Leaves. — Large, oblong, tapering to the end, thick, deep green, re- 



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