PEABS. 489 



and November. The tree is a vigorous and healthy grower, bears 

 abundantly, and succeeds well either on the pear or the quince, forming 

 handsome pyramids. When grown against a wall, and the fruit weU 

 thinned, the latter sometimes attain an enormous size. 



The original tree was observed by M. Anne-Pierre Audusson, nurseryman at 

 Angers, growing in the garden of the farm of l^paronnais, near Champign^, in 

 Anjou, and having procured grafts of it, he sold the trees in 1812 under the name 

 of Poire des Eparonnais. In 1820 he sent a basket of the fruit to the Duchesse 

 d'AngouISme, with a request to be permitted to name the pear in honour of her j 

 arequest which was granted, and since that time it has borne its present appella- 

 tion. 



DUCHESSE D'ANaoULEME PANACHEE.— This in every 

 respect resembles the normal form from which it is a sport, and dis- 

 tinguished by the wood, the leaves and the fruit being variegated with 

 alternate green and yellow. It originated in the nurseries of M. Andre 

 Leroy at Angers in 1840. 



DUCHESSE DE BERRY D'ETE (Duchesse de Berry de Nantes).— 

 Fruit, below medium size, roundish obovate, even in its outline. 

 Skin, smooth and shining, of a greenish lemon-yellow colour, strewed 

 with small russet dots, a circle of thin pale russet round the eye, and 

 a patch round the stalk. Eye, very small and closed with small, flat 

 segments, and set even with the surface. Stalk, three-quarters of an 

 inch long, woody, inserted on one side in a small cavity, with a fleshy 

 lip on one side of it. Flesh, white, rather coarse-grained, and sUghtly 

 gritty, crisp, and very juicy. Juice, cool and refreshing, sweet, and 

 briskly flavoured. 



A good early pear; ripe in the end of August and beginning of 

 September. 



Duchesse de Berry d'Hiver. See Uvedale's St. Germain. 



DUCHESSE DE BRABANT.— Fruit, medium sized; short pyri- 

 form, even in its outline. Skin, very thin, smooth, and shining, 

 greenish yellow, thickly strewed with russety dots, and with a patch of 

 russet round the eye. Eye, large and open, set in a shallow basin. 

 Stalk, an inch long, inserted without depression. Flesh, yellowish 

 white, buttery and melting, very juicy and sweet, with a pleasant 

 aroma. 



An a^eeable and refreshing pear ; ripe in November. 



DUCHESSE DE MARS {Comtesse de Lunay). — Fruit, medium 

 sized ; obovate. Skin, yellow, with a tinge of reddish brown next the 

 sun, and considerably covered with brown russet. Eye, small and 

 closed, set in a shallow depression. Stalk, an inch long, inserted with- 

 out depression. Flesh, buttery, melting, juicy, perfiimed, and well 

 flavoured. 



An excellent dessert pear; ripe in November. The tree succeeds 

 well as a standard, and is an abundant bearer. 



