414 APPENDIX. 



nut color and the buds, like those of an apple, incline to the 

 shoot. Mr. Downing is consequently in error in confound- 

 ing it with the white Doyenne, as are those who call it the 

 Saint Michael, which is a synonym of the white Doyenne. 

 We have now no doubt that is of American origin. It origi- 

 nated, as we believe, in the garden of a gentleman in the 

 upper part of the city of New York. Since the 5^ear 1807, 

 when we came in possession of the nursery of David Wil- 

 liamson, we have cultivated this superior fruit. At that 

 time it was almost the only variety inquired for, and the 

 name given it, as we understood by a Frenchman, was 

 adopted by Mr. Williamson and has ever since been re- 

 tained by us. Hence by Mr. Coxe, in his " View of the 

 Cultivation of Fruit trees," published. in 1817, it is called 

 Williarasoii' s Virgoulouse. He says of it : " The tree is of 

 vigorous growth and bears well ; a native fruit from New 

 York," (p 210.) and of the (French) Virgoulouse, he says he 

 imported it t>om France, and of course knew it to be dif- 

 ferent. The name Smyasse Virgoulouse was given by Par- 

 men tier, who found the pear in cultivation among us, and 

 thus called it to distinguish it from the French variety, and 

 to indicate its superiority. 



Fruit, above the medium size, roundish, turbinate, taper- 

 ing handsomely to the stem. Generally about tvvo inches 

 and three fourths in length and 2 and 5-8 in diameter. Skin 

 smooth and when perfectly ripe of a citron color and 

 clouded with brownish yellow, and on the sunny side a 

 fine blush red. Eye small, with very little depression, 

 without any wrinkle. Stalk about three fourths of an inch 

 long, rather stout, often a little curved, inserted in a very 

 small cavity, nearly level with the fruit. Flesh, a rich 

 light yellow, buttery and melting ; juice sweet, plentiful, 

 aromatic and very delicious. It ripens about the first 

 week in October, and will keep with proper care until the 

 middle of January. 



The fruit varies much in size according to the thrifti- 

 ness of the trees. They should have a warm and shelter- 

 ed situation, and require to have the branches thinned out, 

 and likewise to be well manured and the soil mellowed 

 every year. It is an abundant bearer, but if neglected 

 and exhausted by overbearing, and especially when the 

 roots get down into a poor gravelly soil, the fruit will be 



