1914 



FRUITS OF ONTARIO. 



SECKEL. 



The finest dessert pear in cultivation, and one that should never be omitted from 

 the garden, when planting pears for home use. Downing calls it " The richest and most 

 exquisitely flavored variety known." At Maplehurst it has been grown both as a dwarf 

 and as a standard; in the former case with the most satisfactory results, but in the 

 latter, smaller, less highly flavored and less attractive in appearance. 



Its small size rules it out of the commercial orchard, unless one can cultivate a very 

 special demand among a certain class of consumers who will appreciate its high quality. 



ORIGIN: on the farm of Mr. Seckel, of Philadelphia, near the Delaware river, where, 

 in 1884, the original tree was still standing, aged one hundred years, and having reached 

 the height of thirty feet. The Seckel was first introduced into England, into the garden 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1819. 



SECKEL. 



TREE: healthy, hardy, and productive; forms a compact symmetrical head; wood 

 olive brown in color, stout and short jointed; succeeds best as a dwarf. 



FRUIT: size small, form obovate, regular and even; color dull brownish green, yel- 

 lowing as it ripens with a deep brownish red cheek; stem half an inch in length, in a 

 very small cavity; calyx small, open, in a shallow basin. 



FLESH: white; texture very fine grained, melting and juicy; flavor honey-sweet; 

 rich, spicy, with delicate aroma. 



QUALITY: dessert best; cooking good. 



VALUE: first class for a special market; but second class where not known, on 

 account of its small size. 



SEASON: September to October. 

 12 F.o. 



