FEBRUARY. 



73 



Bergamotte d'Espere-n. This variety promises to be 

 valuable here ; it is of a good size, nearly round, sometimes 

 a little oblong : when ripe, skin yellow, partially covered 

 with cinnamon russet. This pear hangs well on the tree 

 until quite late, seldom suffering from high winds, and the 

 flavor is rather spicy, high flavored, with a fair quantity of 

 juice ; will keep probably until the end of winter. It grows 

 finely on the quince as well as pear stock ; no doubt valuable 

 for market. This variety has also been received by me un- 

 der the name of Bezi d'Espereri, from Europe, which is said 

 to be distinct. [This is undoubtedly the, true Bezi d'Esper- 

 en, and not the Bergamotte, which is a different fruit. — Ed.] 



Easter Beurre' is now ripening fast ; it has not been so 

 good as I have tasted it some other seasons. There has been 

 a great deal of waste in ripening, many of the specimens be- 

 coming spotted, and beginning to decay on one side. It has 

 also been lacking in juice — rather what would be called but- 

 tery. But this is a very curious pear, varying very much in 

 quality from the same tree ; those specimens that are fair and 

 of a good size, from the outside of the tree, are sometimes 

 melting and of the finest quality. 



Catinka is now ripe ; a very melting, nice pear, but so 

 variable in size that I can hardly say what the usual size is. 

 I had some specimens, in the early part of the season, of 

 good fair size ; but those that I have at present are quite 

 small, of a pyriform shape, long stem, nicely colored, of a 

 golden yellow. The tree is one of the most robust growers 

 on the quince that I know of. 



All of the above sorts have been cut to-day, Jan. 3d. The 

 following have also been very good : — 



Beurre' d'Anjou. This pear has again been of the very 

 best quality; large size, ripening without any trouble ; decid- 

 edly the best pear we have here for November : it probably 

 keeps longer with you. This kind is very valuable for mar- 

 ket, keeping sound a great while. 



Beurre' Diel has also been very fine in this neighbor- 

 hood, principally on quince stocks ; very large and quite 

 melting. This variety bears rather sparingly when young. 



VOL. XXII. NO. II. 10 



