Notes and Gleanings. 241 



DuCHESSE DE BORDEAUX OR Beurre Pkrrault Pear. — The tree is very 

 vigorous : it makes fine specimens either on quince or free stocks ; but the dis- 

 position to form fruit-buJs is such, that, ta have the best trees, it ihould be graft- 

 ed on free stocks, when it forms fine pyramids. The fruit measures about two 

 and three-quarters inches in height by three and a half inches in diameter; form 

 roundish, slightly flattened ; stem strong, woody, slightly curved, and placed in a 

 large and deep cavity ; calyx large, open, irregular, divisions unequal, short, of 

 a clear brown color, placed in a large and deep cavity ; skin of a clear green, 

 almost wholly covered with russet, passing to yellow touched with sienna at the 

 time of ripening ; flesh very fine, yellowish, very melting, juice very abundant, 

 well sugared, and agreeably perfumed. This beautiful and excellent fruit has 

 the advantage of ripening well, and keeping a long time without change or decay. 

 I have tasted it tVom the end of November until February, 1866. 



This variety owes its origin to chance, having been found among some stocks 

 furnished by M. Perrault, nursery-man at Montrevault, to M. Secher of Mont- 

 jean, near Angers. It was called by M. Perrault " Beurre de Perrault," and 

 under this name was presented to the pomological congress ; but was christened 

 by M. Secher " Duchesse de Bordeaux." It was planted in the garden of M. 

 Secher in 1854, and first fruited in 1857. — J. de Liroti cf Airoles. 



[We extract the above description from the " Revue Horticole," as the va- 

 riety is now attracting considerable attention. VVe have seen the fruit in the 

 collection of Hon. MirshxU P. Wilder, where it is hardy and productive; but 

 the precise quality is not yet ascertained. The skin is remarkably coarse and 

 granulous. It has been suspected to be an old variety, but proves quite 

 distinct.] 



H. M. V. of St. Joseph, Mo., writes, that they " have an excellent country 

 for almost all kinds of fruit. Apples do finely, bear early and abundantly ; and 

 the fruit is large, and of most excellent quality. The varieties cultivated are 

 Early Harvest, Sweet Bough, Summer Queen, Red Astrachan, Fameuse, Maid- 

 en's Blush, Fall Wine, Rome Beauty, Rambo, Fall Pippin, Ortley, Rawle's Janet, 

 Winesap, New- York Pippin, White Winter Pearmain, Swaar, and Smith's Cider. 

 Pear-trees are hardy, grow well, bear early, and the fruit is large, and of fine 

 quality ; but, in some instances, the trees blight badly. Peaches generally do 

 well ; but the trees are likely to be winter-killed. Sweet cherries do not succeed 

 here ; the Early Richmond and other acid varieties do well. Grapes have never 

 failed. We can raise such grapes as the Concord, Hartford, Virginia Seedling, 

 Delaware, and Diana, without failure. We are trying many varieties. Grapes 

 are being largely planted here ; and, if they continue to do as well as they have 

 for the last few years, wine-making will be one of the leading interests of the 

 State. The wine made here is of excellent quality, and finds a ready market. 

 A hundred thousand grape-vines are now growing in the vicinity of St. Joseph, 

 and the number will be greatly increased this spring." 



VOL. V. 31 



