564 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



Dec. 



THE OLD ST. MICHAEL, OB ^WHITE DOYENNE PEAB. 



In connection with the hopeful view taken 

 by a correspondent, on another page, of the 

 possibility of producing this favorite old pear 

 in New England, we present above an illustra- 

 tion of its fruit. 



At the Fair of the Norfolk county, (Mass.,) 

 agricultural society, at Readville, last Septem- 

 ber, some beautiful specimens of the St. Mi- 

 chael, raised in California from scions obtained 

 of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, were exhibited, 

 and tested by the Committee of the fruit grow- 

 ers of that county. Col. Wilder and other 

 judges pronounced the flavor equal to that of 

 the fruit raised here when the St. jMichael was 

 in its glory ; while all present agreed that by 

 no skill in cultivation and training could it now 

 be raised in that section, with even a fair de- 

 gree of perfection. 



That the variety is not in its dotage, or run- 

 out, as many have supposed, would seem to 

 be proved by its vigorous growth, beauty and 

 perfection on the Pacific coast, and on the 

 grounds of our correspondent. 



Though of French origin, this pear is popu- 

 lar in England, where it is known by different 

 names in different sections. In the region 

 about Boston it is called the St. Michael ; in 

 New York, the Virgalieu ; in Pennsylvania, 

 the Butter Pear, &c. This conf ut-ion in names 

 attests to the wide popularity of the fruit. 



Mr. Cole describes the fruit as "rather large ; 

 obvate ; clear pale jellow, with small dots ; a 

 red cheek full in the sun ; stalk an inch long, 

 stout, in a small cavity ; caljx small, in a shal- 

 low, finely plaited basin ; flesh white, fine 

 texture, melting, very buttery, of a rich, high, 

 delicious flavor. Oct. and into Nov. IMany 

 regard this pear as a standard of excellence ; 

 many others prefer the Seckel. It is per- 

 fectly hardy in tree and fruit, and first rate in 

 quality in the Middle and Western States, in 

 Western New York, and in the region of Bal- 

 timore ; but it generally blasts and cracks in 

 New England, on the sea- coast, yet it still 

 flourishes in the interior. Where uncertain, 

 it does better on the quince. 



