THE BEURRE' GRIS D'HIVER PEAR. 



BEUEiU'y Geis d'Hiver. Album dc Pomolorjie, vol. iii. pi. 49. 



Beurre' Gris d'Hiver Nouveau, \ 



Beurre' DE L1190N, > of some Foreign Collections. 



Beurre' Gris Superieure, j 



Beurre' de Fontenay, according to London Hort. Soc. Catalogue, 4th Ed. 



The Beurre Gris d'Hiver is a very fine addition to 

 our limited number of winter pears. Nearly or quite 

 as large as the Glout Morceau, ripening about the 

 same period, and possessing a peculiarly rich Berga- 

 mot aroma, unlike any other variety of its season, it 

 must claim a prominent place in every choice col- 

 lection of pears. 



The origin of the Beurre Gris d'Hiver, like that of 

 ^nt^ several of the best foreign pears, is unknown. Ac- 



„a=wL^.__-^. cording to Bivort, it is a French variety, first culti- 



vated in Belgium about a dozen years ago. English pomologists do 

 not appear to be acquainted with it. Kenrick, in his American Orcliard- 

 ist, briefly notices it on the authority of M. Jamin of Paris ; but the only 

 full account of it we can find is that by Bivort in the Album de Pomologie 

 above quoted. We have had it in our collection upwards of ten 

 years, though the tree only recently came into bearing. It is generally 

 known as the Beurre Gris d'Hiver nouveau. Under this name we 

 described and figured it in the Magazine of Horticulture, (vol. xx. p. 

 144,) with the remark, that we doubted the propriety of the addition of 

 the word nouveau. Since then we have examined the Album of Bivort, 

 and adopt the briefer and equally correct one of Beurre Gris d'Hiver, 

 there being no other variety of that name. 



In the general habit of the tree, in the wood and foliage, as well as 

 the color of the fruit, it greatly resembles the old Brown Beurre, 

 (Beurre Gris,) from which similarity, we presume, it derived its name ; 

 but the fruit is more obtuse at the stem. It has the same irregular 

 and spreading mode of growth, and like that old variety requires good 

 cultivation to produce fine specimens. In a cold heavy soil the tree 

 does not flourish well, but in a warm light one it grows freely, and bears 

 heavy crops. Even in Belgium, Bivort recommends that it should have 

 a favorable position. It does not succeed long upon the quince, and 

 the pear stock is preferable for this variety, 



[81 J 



