THE GOLDEN BEURRE^ OF BILBOA. 



loLDEN Beuree'' OF BiLBOA. Keiiiick's American Orchardist. 



Golden Beurre', of some English Collections. 

 Hooper's Bilboa, of some American Collections. 



Few of our eai'ly autumn pears have a more 

 prepossessing appearance than the Golden Beurre 

 of Bilboa. Its skin is unusually smooth and fair, 

 and its golden yellow hue, so indicative of its name, 

 is made yet the more rich in contrast with the 

 / deep blotch of cinnamon russet which encircles its 

 stem, and whose outer line is lost in the dehcate 

 tracings and dottings which radiate from it. But 

 the great beauty of the Golden Beurre of Bilboa, 

 as with some pears, is not its only merit. Inde- 

 pendent of this it is really a most excellent fruit, having a fine melting 

 flesh, a vinous juice, and a pleasant flavor; add to these a vigorous and 

 handsome growing tree, producing abundant crops, and a fair estimate 

 may be formed of this desirable pear. 



The Golden Beurre of Bilboa was first introduced into American 

 collections by Mr. J. Hooper, of Marblehead, who imported the tree 

 from Bilboa, in Spain, in 1821 ; and in October, 1831, specimens of the 

 fruit were first exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 

 Mr. Manning, wlio introduced it into his collection, thought it might 

 probably be detected among the future importations from Europe ; but 

 neither in the immense number of varieties cultivated by Mr. Manning, 

 nor in any other collection, up to this time, a period of twenty years, 

 has a similar variety yet been seen, showing conclusively that it must 

 have originated in the country from whence it was received. 



Some few years ago we received several new varieties of pears from 

 an Enghsh collection, and among them was a Golden Beurre. We 

 supposed it to be some entirely new kind, as no such pear has been 

 described by any European pomologist. The wood appeared familiar, 

 though we did not then think of identifying it as a synonym e. We 

 have since ascertained that scions of the Golden Beurre of Bilboa 

 were sent to England, some years ago, by Mr. W. Kenrick. This at 

 once explained the history of the Golden Beurre, and we doubt not, 

 hereaftei-, it wiU be often received from abroad as a new pear. 



The tree is a vigorous and healthy grower, with a fine habit, making 

 a symmetrical head. It does not come into bearing veiy early, nor 

 does it succeed verv well upon the quince. 



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