THE HOWELL PEAR. 



Howell. Magazine of Horticulture, vol xv. p. 69. 



The Howell, though of recent introduction 

 to notice, and not yet very generally cultivated, 

 proves to be one of our best native pears ; not, 

 perhaps, so exquisite in flavor as some other 

 sorts, but possessing so many of the indispensa- 

 ble requisites of a fine fruit that it must become 

 a general favorite. The tree is hardy, quite 

 vigorous, with a good habit, and the fruit is 

 large, exceedingly fair, always perfect, and of the 

 first quality. 



The Howell is a Connecticut pear, and was 

 raised from seed by the late Thomas Howell, Esq., of New Haven. 

 The seeds were planted in his garden in that city, in 1829 or '30, and 

 the tree came into bearing in 1842 or '43. Mr. Howell's premises 

 adjoined those of the late Gov. Edwards, whose seedling pears have 

 attracted considerable attention ; and it was about the time that the 

 Governor's trees began to bear fruit, that Mr. Howell, incited, no doubt, 

 by his neighbor's good example, planted the seeds from which this and 

 several others were raised. 



The seeds planted by Mr. Howell were taken from a variety known 

 in New Haven as the Jonah pear, a very hard and tough winter fruit, 

 rarely fit for the table. The tree stood in his garden, with a White 

 Doyenne on one side, and a Summer Bon Chretien on the other. The 

 Howell evidently is a natural cross between the two, retaining some of 

 the characteristics of both. It has the habit and the foliage of the 

 Bon Chretien ; while in the delicacy and fineness of its flesh, and its 

 brisk and vinous flavor, it approaches the Doyenne : but what appears 

 rather remarkable is that it should be such a fair fruit, when that from 

 both of its parents is subject to spot and crack. The experience of four 

 years has never yet enabled us to find a defective pear on the Howell. 



The tree is a free and vigorous grower, with a spreading habit, throw- 

 ing out its branches quite horizontal at first, but curved upwards at the 

 ends. It begins to bear rather early, and produces good crops. Whether 

 it will succeed or not on the quince, we have no satisfactory experience ; 

 but we are inclined to think that, like most of our American pears, it will 

 not do well on that stock. 



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