REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE OX FRUITS. 97 



presented by the President of the Society. Jn size and shape it 

 resembles the Pratt but the color is greener. It is of good quality, 

 being like Andrews in texture and flavor, but shows a disposition 

 to rot at the core. The Souvenir de Congres, exhibited at the 

 same lime with the above, by Marshall P. Wilder, has borne the 

 highest reputation among the new European pears. It is very 

 large, pyramidal, sometimes elongated, so as to resemble the Cale- 

 basse type, ver}'^ handsomely colored, with a brilliant red cheek, 

 and of good quality. The tree is very vigorous and handsome. It 

 certainly possesses many remarkabl}'' excellent properties, but 

 fuitlier trial is required to determine whether, even with these 

 advantages, it can compete with a pear so firmly established in 

 public favor as the Bartlett, with which it ripens. The Beurre de 

 I'As'^omption, shown by Mr. Wilder, has also a high European 

 reputation Size large, resembles the Bartlett in form, l)ut is more 

 pynifurin, and at times varies to obovate and Calebasse shape ; skin 

 very delicate, pale yellow or straw color, indeed, almost white; 

 flesh juicy, and of excellent quality. The fruit is not as large as 

 the Souvenir de Congres, and the tree is not so vigorous, making 

 stout shoots but small foliage, but tlie fruit is of better quality. 

 The Pocahontas pear, exhibited by W. G. Prescott, October 11th, is 

 of medium size, oval, very handsome, clear yellow, with a brilliant 

 red cheek, sweet and pleasant, but surpassed by many other pears 

 of its season. The Mount Vernon has proved of its usual excel- 

 lent quality. Goodale has been presented by several growers, and 

 found to be full as good or better than usual, but it still seems to 

 have something wanting to make it a first-rate pear, though from 

 the place of its origin it ma^^ possess a hardiness that will render 

 it valuable, especially in northern latitudes. The St. Crispin was 

 tested October 25th and though of large size and well flavored it is 

 so knobby without, and has so many hard, tough spots within, that 

 it cannot be recommended. The Doyenne Downing was shown by 

 Mr. Joshua Richmond, of New Bedford, November 1st. Large, 

 oval, stem short, thick, and fleshy, dull green, with much rough 

 russet ; juicy, melting, sprightly, and fine flavored. The specimen 

 was not perfectly ripe, but promised to be of first quality. 



The Messrs. Clapp have again exhibited many of their seedling 

 pears. No. 137, shown at the annual exhil»ition, was of medium 

 size, turbinate, clear yellow, with russet round the stein ; melting, 

 juic}'^, and good, but with too much of the musky flavor of the 



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