166 NEW AMERICAN ORCHARD1ST. 



189. *VAN MONS LEON LE CLERC. 



A splendid new fruit, raised by M. Leon le Clerc, of 

 Laval, and so named in honor of Dr. Van Mons. This 

 fruit is not to be confounded with another fruit, raised by 

 Dr. Van Mons himself, and called Leon Le Clerc, which 

 is not at all to be compared to this. Mr. Langelier, of the 

 Isle of Jersey, exhibited this fruit to the London Horticul- 

 tural Society; and Mr. Thompson, and other first-rate 

 judges, believe it to be the best pear in the world, it is 

 thus described by him : " Form oblong, four inches in 

 length, and nearly three inches in breadth ; the eye is 

 shallow, small, but open; the stalk rather more than an 

 inch in length, moderately strong, and obliquely inserted ; 

 the skin yellowish, every where profusely covered with 

 brown, a little russeted near the stalk ; the flesh is yellow- 

 ish white, buttery, and melting, with a very rich, sugary 

 flavor. It proves a pear of first-rate excellence, combining 

 the properties of large size, handsome appearance, and 

 rich flavor." This fruit ripens from October to winter. 

 I/ 190. VICOMPTE DE SPOELBERCH. Van Mons. 



Extract from an article written by Dr. Van Mons in the 

 Revue des Revues, inserted by the Hon. H. A. S. Dear- 

 born : The size varies according to the quantity produced. 

 Its form is nearly spherical, swollen, and flattened near the 

 eye, contracted towards the stalk. The skin is thick arid 

 rough, of a brownish red next the sun, with purple spots ; 

 on the opposite side deep green. The flesh is buttery, 

 saccharine, full of agreeable and sprightly juice, and very 

 high-flavored. This excellent pear is decidedly a winter 

 fruit, and sometimes keeps till spring. It was raised by 

 Dr. Van Mons. 



191. WILHELMINA. [D.] Bon Jard. 



A new fruit of great excellence ; large, and melting ; 

 ripening in September. Thus is this fruit described by 

 MM. Jamin and Dalbret ; but the Bon Jardinier describes 

 it as follows : In form of the Doyenne, punctured with 

 gray in the shade, laved with red next the sun; flesh yel- 

 lowish white, beurree ; juice abundant, sugary, perfumed! 

 February. March. 



192. *WINTER CRASSANNE. Mr. Thompson. [E.] 

 A new pear, raised by Mr. Knight, and sent by him, in 



1832, to the Hon. John Lowell and the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural Society. Very large ; turbinate ; of a greenish 



