Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 291 



year produces a very large crop. The fruit is roundish, second 

 in size ; color of the skin, pale yellow. When fully ripe it is 

 the most buttery fleshed pear I ever tasted ; yet it does not rot 

 at the core, and will keep, in its ripe state, for several days. 

 The skin can, (when the pear is fully ripe,) be taken off like 

 the skin of an orange, leaving a mouthful of delicious, juicy, 

 buttery, sweet flesh. It has a peculiar perfume and flavor, 

 to some persons very grateful. It ripens in October, and were 

 it not that we have so many delicious pears, in eating, in that 

 season, the Fondante Van Mons would be classed among the 

 best. I place it as a good second rate pear ; but by those 

 who love a sweet pear, with its peculiar flavor, it will be 

 esteemed and cultivated." 



Mr. Thompson ranks it first quality, m the last edition of 

 the Horticultural Society's Catalogue ; and from repeated 

 trials of several specimens, in successive years, we should not 

 hesitate thus to class it, though we must admit that it is not 

 quite equal to the Marie liOuise and some other first rate 

 pears. Mr. Downing states that it was first introduced by 

 Mr. Manning, but this is an error, as will be seen by Mr. 

 Walker's communication. 



Size, medium, about two and a half inches long and two 

 and a half in diameter : Form, roundish, very regular and 

 slightly depressed : Skin, fair, smooth, thick, greenish yellow 

 at maturity, marbled with red on the sunny side, and very 

 regularly covered with large pale russet specks : Stem, me- 

 dium length, about one inch, stout, curved, smooth, light 

 brown, with russet specks, and deeply inserted in a round 

 open cavity: Eye, large, open, little depressed, in a round 

 shallow basin ; segments of the calyx long, pointed, reflexed : 

 Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, melting, buttery, and juicy : 

 Flavor, sweet and pleasant, with a slight, musky perfume : 

 Core, large : Seeds, large, dark brown. Ripe in October and 

 keeps to November. 



51. COMTESSE DE LuNAY. 



One of the best pears which we tasted last season was the 

 Comtesse de Lunay, {fig- 16.) This beautiful variety we 

 received from our correspondent. Col. Wilder ; and it was one 

 of several fine specimens exhibited by him at the annual 



