THE PEAR. 541 



^skin"'!?™,;.,^^^''^' large, pyriform, elongated toward the crown ; 

 skm rough, green, becoming yellow, dull red to the sun • stalk 

 one inch long, not sunk; basin moderate, rather distinct' flesh 

 rather coarse granular, buttery, somewhat acid, often astringent 

 -variable Early winter. Shoots greenish-purple, divergfng- 

 leaves dark green. Often ripens in autumn. "ivcrgmg, 



Winter Nelis.* (Nelis d'Hiver. Bonne de Malines.) Size rather 

 small or medium, roundish-pyriform, often obovate, neck small 

 and short ; surface yellowish-green, much russeted ; stalk an inch 

 and a quarter long, bent ; cavity.narrow ; calyx stiif. short; basin 

 shallow, ribbed; flesh yellowish-white, fine-grained buttery 

 very melting, rich, sweet, or slightly vinous, perfumed, aromatic," 

 with an excellent flavor. Early winter. Growth slender flexu- 

 ous. and straggling ; leaves narrow, recurved ; petioles rather Ions. 

 Origin, Mechlin, in Belgium. Fig. 737. 



Class II. Obscure Pyriform, Obovate or Turbinate. 



Alen^on. (Doyenned'HiverNouveau, Doyenn^Gris d'Hiver Nou- 

 veau. St. Michael d'Hiver.) Medium, obovate. approaching pyri- 

 form when large, skin rough ; yellow, with russet or brown dots : 

 stalk medium, stout, moderately sunk, basin deep- flesh some- 

 what granular, buttery, juicy, rich, sprightly. December to 

 April. Although not of the highest flavor, this pear is one of the 

 most valuable and reliable of good-keeping winter pears. 



Alexandre Lambre. Size medium, roundish-obovate ; yellowish- 

 green marbled with red toward the sun ; stalk stout, not sunk ; 

 basin shallow ; flesh juicy, melting, sweet, rich, sometimes very 

 good, frequently poor. November, December. Shoots slender, 

 yellowish, spreading. 



Anjou.* Commences ripening in autumn. See Autumn Pears. 



Brande's St. Germain. Size medium, obovate. often considerably 

 pyriform, narrowing to both ends, smooth and regular; skin yel- 

 lowish-green, thickly dotted with large russet specks ; stalk an 

 inch long, thick, obliquely set; calyx small, stiff, erect; basin 

 small, narrow, often none ; flesh buttery, melting, yellow toward 

 the core, with a pleasant, slightly acid, good, or very good flavor. 

 Early winter. English. 



Columbia.'* (Columbian Virgalieu. Columbia Virgouleuse.) 

 Large, long obovate. regular, handsomely rounded or obtuse, 

 largest nearest the middle ; surface pale green, becoming pale yel- 

 low, always smooth and fair ; stalk an inch and a quarter long, rather 

 slender ; cavity narrow, deep ; calyx erect, basin small ; flesh 

 white, melting, and buttery, of moderately rich flavor. Ripens 

 early winter. Growth upright, vigorous, shoots brownish yellow. 

 The large, handsome fruit, and the great productiveness of the 

 tree, have rendered this variety popular and profitable for market, 

 although not high in quality. It does not appear to succeed so 

 well as far north as Boston or Rochester as farther south. A 

 native of Westchester County, N. Y. 



