1914 FRUITS OF ONTARIO. 15!> 



EASTER BEURRE. 



Among the desirable pears to grow for export we must not overlook the Easter 

 Beurre, which, though green and unattractive in appearance at time of harvesting, keeps 

 well through the winter, is an excellent shipper, and is very good in quality. A warm 

 climate and favorable soil seem to be necessary to its best development, and, accord- 

 ingly, we find it planted for commercial purposes in the Californian pear orchards. 

 On deep, rich sandy loam, in the southern parts of our Province, it succeeds well, either 

 as a dwarf, or as a standard tree. 



Although some writers have claimed that this pear originated in France, because 

 some old trees were found near Laval, yet the majority agree that the variety originated 

 in Belgium, at the old University town of Louvain. Van Mons, in his Album de Pomo- 

 logie, in 1847, says, " This variety was found in the ancient gardens of Capucins, at 

 Louvain, where the original tree still stood in the year 1825, under the name of Pas- 

 torale de Louvain." 



In the old countries, much confusion has existed regarding the names of pears, and 

 subsequently much difficulty exists in the identification of varieties; this pear, for 

 example, is given no less than twenty-four different names in LeRoy's Dictionnaire de 

 Pomologie, as, for example, Doyenne de Printemps, Canning, Beurre d'Hiver, etc., the 

 last being adopted by LeRoy; while Hogg, of England, and Downing, of America, both 

 adopt the name so well known to us, Easter Beurre. 



TREE: fairly vigorous, upright and productive, and may be grown either as a dwarf 

 or as a standard tree; if, as a standard, it needs good, rich soil and a warm climate 

 for the best success. In Great Britain, it does not seem to succeed so well as in 

 Canada, for Hogg says it frequently happens that this delicious pear is of an indiffer- 

 ent and insipid flavor, which is caused by the unfavorable soil; and Blackmore, of 

 Teddington, says, " It cracks in spots and is seldom very good." Our experience with 

 it, as grown on a dwarf tree, is favorable. 



FEUIT: above medium size, irregular obovate; skin, pale green at harvesting 

 time, yellowing somewhat toward maturity, with numerous russet dots, russet patches 

 around the stem and calyx, and often a brownish cheek; stem, about 1 inch long, 

 stout, swollen at the base, set in a narrow, deep cavity; calyx, small, closed, set in a 

 much plaited basin of moderate depth. 



FLESH: white, fine in texture, melting and juicy; flavor, sweet, rich and agreeable. 

 QUALITY: dessert, good. 

 VALUE: export, first class. 

 SEASON: mid to late winter. 



