THE DUCHESSE OF ANGOULEME PEAR. 



DucHESSE OF Angouleme. Pomological Magazine, vol. ii. pi. 76. 



Few varieties of pears have attracted so much 

 attention as the Duchesse of Angouleme. The im- 

 mense size of the fruit, — its great beauty and rich 

 flavor, — as well as the vigor, hardiness, and produc- 

 tiveness of the tree, have given it a character which 

 entitles it to a place in the smallest collection. Some 

 cultivators, we are aware, have pronounced it a varia- 

 ble fruit, sometimes excellent, but oftener wanting in 

 flavor, and only to be considered a good pear. But 

 we are inclined to believe this character has only 

 been applied to it when grown in an unfavorable soil 

 or locality, or when, from some cause, the fruit has not been produced in 

 its best condition. The Pomological Magazine, above quoted, describes 

 it as " the very finest" of late autumn pears, and though this was twenty 

 years ago, since which time many new kinds have been introduced, we 

 know of no variety of the same season, except Swan's Orange, which 

 for general cultivation will surpass it. 



The Duchesse of Angouleme was originally found growing in a hedge, 

 at Anvers, near Paris, upwards of thirty years ago ; but since its intro- 

 duction it has been rapidly and widely disseminated, and there are few 

 collections which do not contain one or more trees. The fruit often 

 grows to a very large size ; its ordinary weight is from twelve to sixteen 

 ounces ; but the specimen which our drawing so beautifully represents, 

 weighed upwards of twenty ounces, and grew upon a dwarf tree only 

 four or five years old. 



The tree is of upright and stocky habit, and makes a beautiful and 

 symmetrical pyramid, growing admirably upon the quince, and forming 

 fine specimens at the age of four or five years. It is also a fine variety 

 for espaUers or walls ; and a trained tree, with a full crop, is one of the 

 most attractive objects of the fruit garden. It comes into bearing early, 

 either upon the pear or quince stock. 



Teee. — ^\^igorous, upright and erect, the lateral branches ascending 

 at very acute angles ; annual shoots long and straight. 



Wood. — Brownish yellow, thickly dotted with large prominent whitish 

 specks, stout and rather long-jointed ; old wood yellowish ohve ; buds, 

 medium size, long, slender, and sharply pointed, diverging : Flower- 

 buds, medium size, ovate, with somewhat wooly scales. 



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