COLUMBIA. 



Synonyms Columbia Virgalieu, Columbia Virgouleuse. 



C Longitudinal diameter 3f inches. 

 Size of Fruit Large ] . 



(Transverse diameter oi inches. 



Form Round, obovate, usually one sided. 



Skin Smooth, fair, pale green, becoming lemon yellow, with minute russet dots, 

 and sometimes a few interrupted russet streaks. 



Stem li inches long by 4 thick, becoming more stout and fleshy at its junction 

 with the spur or branch, usually curved, inserted obliquely in a small nar- 

 row cavity. 



Core Medium. 



Seed Light cinnamon, acuminate, i inch long T 3 g wide, 4 thick, with an angle at 

 one side of the blunt end. 



Flesh White, granular near the core, melting and buttery. 



Flavor Rich, saccharine, with an agreeable aroma. 



Quality " Very good" sometimes " best." 



Maturity From November to January. 



Leaf It to II inches wide by 31 to 41 long, including petiole, which is li to 2i 

 inches in length to li in width. 



Wood Young shoots brownish yellow, old wood grey olive. 



Growth Upright, vigorous. 



HISTORY, ETC. 



The Columbia Pear is a native of West Chester County, New York. It 

 originated on the farm of Mr. Casser, thirteen miles from the City of New York ; 

 and was brought into notice by Bloodgood & Co., of Flushing, Long Island. 



Hon. M. P. Wilder remarks in the Horticulturist, (Vol. 1, page 20.) " This 

 excellent native variety has proved with me a fruit more uniformly smooth, per- 

 fect in shape, and free from the depredations of insects, than almost any other 

 sort." He esteems it one of the five best winter Pears ; the other four being 

 Beurr^ d'Aremberg, Winter Nelis, Glout Morceau and Passe Colmar. It is an 

 abundant bearer when the trees have arrived at a mature age. 



