502 The Shenks Pear. 



least doubt, to its having been allowed to ripen on the tree. 

 Like all summer pears it must be gathered early and ripened 

 in the house. It will be noticed that the pears sent to Messrs. 

 Thorp, Smith & Co., and by them sent to us, were picked 

 " green and hard ; " hence their excellence. 



The early introduction of the pear into Mr. Manning's col- 

 lection, shows the earnestness and enthusiasm with which he 

 entered into the cultivation of this fruit. Whenever a new 

 variety was mentioned, Mr. Manning would immediately en- 

 deavor to procure the scions, in order to identify and prove 

 the quality of the pear. But from the accidental oversight 

 of picking the fruit in due season, the Shenks has remained 

 principally, if not wholly, in his collection for a dozen years, 

 and might have remained a dozen more, but for the acciden- 

 tal notice of it by Dr. Brinckle, of Philadelphia. This simple 

 fact shows how carefully we should thoroughly test every 

 variety of fruit, before we condemn it. 



We add an engraving (Jig. 37,) and a description of the 

 pear. 



^Size, large, about three inches long, and three in diameter: 

 Form, roundish obovate, somewhat angular, and unevenly 

 shaped, narrowing from the crown, which is large, into the 

 stem : Skin, fair, smooth, pale lemon yellow when mature, 

 thickly dotted with large greenish specks: Stem, short, about 

 half an inch long, moderately stout, swollen and fleshy at the 

 base, which appears a continuation of the fruit : Eye, large, 

 open, and slightly depressed in a small, somewhat angular, 

 basin ; segments of the calyx broad, short and reflexed : Flesh, 

 white, little coarse, but very melting, buttery and juicy : Fla- 

 vor, vinous, sprightly and excellent, but without much per- 

 fume : Core, large : Seeds, medium size, angular, dark. Ripe 

 in August. 



We have been thus minute in our account of this pear, as 

 it is important to prove its identity beyond doubt, and thus 

 prevent the introduction of synonymes into our collections. 

 It is briefly described in Downing's Treatise on Fruits and 

 Fruit Trees. 



