PEARS. 877 



and an early bearer. Like many other sorts, is liable to 

 overbear, and will then be poor ; needs severe thinning. 



Pound (UvEDALE'rf St. Gekmain, and over thirty other 

 synonyms). — Large, pyriform ; yellowisli-green ; flesh 

 firm, excellent for baking or stewing. — Early to late 

 Winter. Tree a moderate, healthy grower, very pro- 

 ductive. Valued everywhere for cooking or preserving. 



Vicar of Hiukfield (Le Cure, and two dozen more 

 synonyms). — Origin France. Large, long-pyrif orm ; pale 

 yellow at maturity, often, when well grown, with a 

 browish-red cheek ; flesh moderately juicy, half-buttery, 

 sprightly and good. — Early to mid or late Winter. Tree 

 a healthy, vigorous grower, and very productive. This 

 is one of the most profitable as an orchard sort among 

 the whole list of pears, but needs to be well grown to 

 be good ; trees are apt to be overladen and should be 

 thinned. 



Winter Nelis (Bonne de Maltnes, etc.). — Medium or 

 below, roundish-obovate ; yellowish-green, patched and 

 marbled with considerable russet ; flesh fine-grained, but- 

 tery, very juicy, sugary, aromatic. — Early Winter. Tree 

 thrifty, hardy, rather slender, and somewhat irregular 

 grower, an early and regularly abundant bearer ; valuable 

 for the garden and orchard. The crop usually needs 

 thinning, especially on trees of considerable age ; fruit is 

 always inferior when the tree is overloaded, but this 

 applies to nearly all varieties, though not in the same 



CLASS IV. 



Varieties of pears scarcely entitled to a place on the 

 select list, and too good to be omitted. Some are very 

 popular and valuable in certain localities ; others are new, 

 or comparatively new, and promising. This list might 

 have been greatly extended. 



