PEARS. 



35 



spotted with gray and marbled with HgM red on the sunny 

 side ; the flesh is half-breaking, pleasant, and agreeably ^n- 

 riched with a slight perfume ; the seeds are oblong and black, 

 and the fruit ripens the middle of August. The tree is vigo- 

 rous and productive, and may be propagated on both the pear 

 and the quince. 



THE PRINCE'S PEAR. MIL. FOR. PR. 

 Poir de Prince. Mil. For. Pr. cat. 25 ed. 



Although a French origin seems to be claimed for this fruit, 

 I cannot find it mentioned by Duhamel, nor in the Jardhi 

 Fruitier, Bon Jardinier, &tc., neither is it enumerated in any 

 French catalogue that has met my eye ; it is consequently to 

 be inferred either that it originated and received its title in 

 some other country, or that it is known in France under a dif- 

 ferent name. Forsyth remarks that it is said to be the same 

 with the Chair a dame pear, a comparison with which had 

 better therefore be instituted, and will receive my attention. 

 He however describes it differently from that fruit as follows: 



" This is a small roundish pear, of a bright red colour next 

 the sun, but of a yellowish colour on the other side ; the flesh 

 is between breaking and melting, the juice very high-fla- 

 voured. It is a great bearer, and ripens the middle of Sep* 

 tember, but will keep a fortnight good, which few summer 

 pears will do." In this country it ripens in August. 



Miller describes this pear without referring to any author 

 even for its French title. Forsyth and others follow him, and 

 thence we have the description in several works without any 

 original reference. From this and other circumstances we 

 may reasonably suppose it synonymous with some other des- 

 cribed variety. The Admiral pear is stated by Quintinye and 

 Evelyn to have been also called the Prince pear, and I don't 

 recollect that any other author makes use of the title before 

 Miller. 



