PEARS. 



85 



PROVENCE. N. DUH. 

 Donville, of some collections. | Bequesne 1 



This pear is of a pyramidal form, very regularly elongated ; 

 it is three inches six or eight lines in height, and twenty-seven 

 to twenty-eight lines in diameter ; the eye is inserted even with 

 the extremity of the fruit, and the stem, without being exactly 

 in a cavity, is usually surrounded by several furrows ; the skin 

 is a lemon colour, scattered over with numerous fawn specks, 

 which on the sunny side acquire a russet tint ; the flesh is ra- 

 ther firm, breaking, of a pleasant flavour, combined with an 

 agreeable perfume ; the seeds are brown and well perfected, 

 and the fruit commences ripening at the end of October. 

 When used for cooking, this pear acquires a sweet taste and 

 delicious flavour. It is cultivated at the Jardin des Plantes at 

 Paris, under the titles given above ; but as two varieties of 

 pears have been called by the name of Donville, the title which 

 heads this article has been adopted for this one in the New 

 Duhamel. I notice that the Bequesne pear is ranged in the 

 London Horticultural Society's catalogue, and in some others, 

 as a synonyme of this variety, but I follow the New Duhamel 

 in keeping them distinct. 



SAINT FRANCOIS. N. DUH. 



This pear has a great resemblance to the Saint Germain, 

 but differs from it considerably in quality ; it is four inches 

 wanting one or two lines in height, and twenty-four lines broad 

 in its greatest diameter ; the skin is light green partially ap- 

 proaching yellow, especially at maturity, and is covered with 

 very numerous russet specks, and in some cases acquires a 

 faint tint of red on the sunny side ; the flesh is firm, with not 

 much flavour, and rather insipid ; but when cooked it attains 

 a sweet and agreeable taste, and remains white. This fruit 

 ripens in November and December. 



