Notes and Gleaning;s. 



219 



Williams d' Hiver Pear is of first size and quality, and comes into use 

 from December to February. The fr.uit is blunt, pyriform, but variable in out- 

 line, much swollen at the base, and drawn in near the top and somewhat bossed. 

 Skin clear yellow, finely dotted and veined with the same in the basin of the 

 eye, with lightish gray about the stalk and on the face exposed to the sun. 

 Stalk short, strong, and thick, set rather obliquely and often to one side 

 of the axis. Eye medium size, half-closed and slightly sunk. Flesh white, 



Williams d' Hiver Pear. 



very fine and very melting ; juice excessively abundant, sugary, acidulated, with 

 a fine, fresh, and savory perfume. The tree is a strong grower, and it succeeds 

 well upon the quince. It was raised by M. Leroy, of Angers, from whom I 

 received it in 1869; it fruited here in 1870, and the accompanying sketch was 

 made from one which ripened Dec. 20. The tree bears abundantly, and deserves 

 to be much cultivated ; it fruited for the first time at Angers in 1862. 



J. S. Merrit, in Gardener's Chronicle. 



