274 Retrospective Criticism. 



preeminence. The season of this fruit is put down for December. This 

 is probably its season in the Isle of Jersey. It may or may not prove 

 earlier here. This fruit may supersede, as it probably will surpass, every 

 other of its particular season, except only it should prove on trial to be 

 greatly surpassed by others in its bearing. — W. K. 



[We regret very much that Mr. Kenrick should think we had aimed 

 any "rebuke" at him, or intended any "censure" by our " remarkable 

 words" on the Vicar of Winkfield pear. We are not aware that his 

 Book especially came into our mind when we penned the remarks. Of 

 the truth of our statement no person who knows any thing of the cultiva- 

 tion of fruits will pretend to doubt. There has indeed been great confu- 

 sion, as Mr. Thompson asserts, in regard to the name and identity of this 

 variety, as Mr. Kenrick fully shows in his communication ; even M. 

 Poiteau, whose knowledge of fruits is very extensive, yet doubting its be- 

 ing different from the Saint Lezin. 



But Mr. Kenrick is entirely mistaken when he thinks that the name of 

 CUon has not been given by any other English or American author, and we 

 shall show that it was Mr. Thompson himself on whose authority we relied, 

 and not in the least upon Mr. Kenrick. In the Gardeners'' Chromcle for 

 January, 1843, p. 20, is an engraving, with a full description, by Mr. 

 Thompson, of the Vicar of Winkfield Pear, which we here copy : 



" Vicar of Wrnkfield. — Synonyms : Le Cure, Monsieur Le Cur6, Clion, 

 Dumas. — The following account will, it is presumed, dear up the 

 confusion which has existed respecting this pear, of which the accom- 

 panying is an outline from a specimen forwarded by the Rev. W. L. 

 Rham. It was found growing wild in a wood by M. Clion, a French cu- 

 rate, and hence obtained the name of Monsieur le Cur6. Subsequently, 

 by French authors, it was erroneously made synonymous with the Saint 

 Lezin, which it resembles only in external appearance : the Saint Lezin 

 being a firm-fleshed stewing pear. Trees under both names were obtained 

 from France by the Horticultural Society ; the Saint Lezin was correct ; 

 but that under the name of Monsieur le Cure proved false, being a small 

 round pear. The difference between the two was in consequence not as- 

 certained till 1832, when M. Vilmorin sent specimens on purpose. With 

 these, fruit from a tree then in bearing in the Society's garden, under the 

 name of Dumas, was found to agree. In the mean time, a tree of the 

 sort in question had been imported from France by Mr. Rham, to his gar- 

 den at Winkfield, Berkshire; and some cultivators having obtained cut- 

 tings from this importation, the variety was propagated in the neighbor- 

 hood of London under the name of the Vicar of Winkfield. For this, 

 the familiar appellation of the Vicar of Wakefield has been sometimes 

 substituted. Fruit very large, oblong, or of a somewhat truncated pyra- 

 midal form ; stalk about an inch in length, obliquely inserted; flesh but- 

 tery, and melting in all .seasons, and rich in such as are favorable. In 

 point of flavor it cannot compete with many autumn varieties ; but as it 

 keeps till January, when there are few good sorts, it deserves cultivation 

 on that account. The tree grows very vigorously, and requires to be 

 kept thin of branches ; it is hardy, and bears as a standard. The leaves 

 are large, roundish, shortly acuminate. Flowers large, with roundish 

 petals." 



As to the authority of Mr. Thompson, in applying the name Vicar of 

 Winkfield, in the 3d Edition of the Catalogue, we have nothing to do ; 



