Notes and Gleanings. 377 



April Pears. — I send for your inspection three or four pears, viz., i. Olivier 

 de Serres, 2. Fortunee de Printemps, 3. Louise Bonne de Printemps, 4. Bergamotte 

 d'Esperen. No. i fruited here in 1869. It is a pear to be depended upon for 

 March and April, as it is a good bearer, is quite hardy, and ripens well. Its 

 flesh is melting, with a fine aroma, and is nearly or quite as good as Winter 

 Nelis in December and January. It was raised from Fortunee de Printemps, or, 

 as we call it, Fortune'e. 



Olivier de Serres Pear. 



No. 2, from a wall in the garden of my son, at Harlow, ripens in February, 

 and is of most excellent flavor, with an agreeable acidity very refreshing. The 

 .specimen sent is from a pyramid here, and not of so high a flavor. [This variety 

 does not succeed in the northern part of the United States, but we advise a trial 

 of it in the Southern States and in California, as likely to prove a valuable late 

 pear in a longer and warmer season. — Ed. Tilton's Journal of Horticulture.] 



No. 3 is a sort raised by M. Boisbunel. It is handsome, and much like its 

 namesake, Louise Bonne d'Avranches, or of Jersey. This sort keeps well till 

 May. It is simply melting or half melting, and sweet, without any aroma ; it is, 

 however, handsome, and well worthy a place in a spring dessert. 



No. 4 is a well known and deservedly esteemed February pear. In my cool dry 

 cellar it keeps well all through April. It is the hardiest and most abundant 

 bearer of all our late pears, and deserves, like No. i, universal cultivation. 



Thomas Rivers. 



[The fruit of Olivier de Serres, referred to by Mr. Rivers, is represented in 



