THE BEURRE^ STERCKMAN PEAR. 



Beuere' Stekckman. Magazine of Horticulture, vol. xix. p. 199. 



The Beurre Sterckman is one of the finest pears 

 of recent introduction to our collections, and promises 

 to become a very popular variety. It is also one of the 

 few, among the great number of sorts which have been 

 yearly imported, which has proved worthy of a place 

 among our best pears, and illustrates the importance 

 of testing every foreign variety; for if one out of 

 every twenty comes up to the standard of the Beurre 

 Sterckman, all the expense of their introduction and 

 subsequent culture, is amply repaid in the addition 

 of such a superior fruit. It has been urged, by some 

 cultivators, that we already have too large a variety of pears, and that- it 

 is a waste of time to test the great number that are yearly brought to 

 notice. But we must dissent from this opinion ; for, if this course had 

 been followed the last ten years, we should now be deprived of some of 

 the choicest kinds in cultivation. The Beurre Clairgeau, Grand Soliel, 

 Poire d'Albret, Doyenne du Cornice, and many others, would have re- 

 mained unknown to our pomologists, only in foreign catalogues. 



The Beurre Sterckman is a Belgian pear, and is put down in the 

 Belgian Catalogues as a seedling of Van Mens, probably found in his 

 extensive collection, after his death. In the absence of any authentic 

 work, describing the newer pears, we are unable to learn anything more 

 than this in regard to it. We first received it of M. Jamin, of Paris, in 

 1848. It is yet a rare variety, and has fruited in but few American 

 collections. In general appearance it resembles the Gray Doyenne, 

 having the same russet skin which distinguishes that pear. It is, how- 

 ever, a superior fruit, possessing a more melting flesh, with a sprightly 

 and luscious aroma. It is an abundant bearer. 



The Beurre Sterckman is a healthy and vigorous growing tree, making 

 strong and stout wood, and but few lateral branches. It matures its 

 fruit at a good season, and keeps well after being gathered from the tree. 

 The tree comes into bearing rather early, and promises to be one of the 

 few varieties that grow freely on the quince; our largest tree, and the 

 one fi^om which our drawing is made, being now eight or nine feet high. 

 The Beurre Hardy, of some French collections, appears to be the 

 same pear; but as we have not yet fruited it, we do not add it as a 

 svnonym. 



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