WINTER PEARS. 257 



St. Germain. Large, long obconic-pyriform ; surface yel- 

 lowish green, faintly tinged with brown to the sun ; stalk 

 an inch long, oblique ; basin small and shallow ; flesh 

 white, slightly gritty, juicy, melting, sweet, and agreea- 

 ble ; fails in many localities, and becomes a third-rate 

 fruit. Late autumn and early winter. Shoots slender, 

 light olive ; leaves narrow, folded and recurved. The 

 Striped St. Germain is a sub-variety, differing only in its 

 faint yellow stripes. 



Vicar of Winkfield. {Syn. Le Cure, Monsieur le Cure. 

 Clion, Dumas.) Quite large ; long pyriform, approaching 

 oblong-obconic, with a conical taper towards the crown ; 

 skin smooth, pale yellow, or pale yellowish-green, with a 

 dull reddish cheek ; stalk aninch to an inch and a half long, 

 slender, often fleshy at insertion, oblique, not sunk ; basin 

 narrow, very shallow ; flesh greenish or yellowish white, 

 juicy, buttery, with a good, second-rate flavor — sometimes 

 slightly astringent, but if ripened in a warm temperature it 

 proves a good table pear. Ripens late autumn and early 

 winter, for about three months. Growth spreading and 

 irregular, or straggling, shoots strong, dark olive. Fine 

 on quince stocks. The great and uniform productiveness 

 of this pear, its fine qualities for cooking, and the long 

 period of its continuance, render it eminently valuable. 



It was formerly cultivated at Boston under the erroneous 

 name of Bourgermester. The true Bourgermester is a 

 third-rate pear, the wood of which cankers badly. 



Section II. — Medium in size. 



Beurre Ranee. (Syn. Beurre 1 de Ranz, Beurre de Ranee, 

 Hardenpont du Printemps, Beurre Epine, Beurre de Flan- 

 dre.) Size medium, obtuse pyriform ; dark green, rough- 

 ish ; stalk an inch and a half long, cavity very shallow or 

 none ; calyx small, basin slight ; flesh greenish white, 

 melting, gritty at core; when well ripened, sweet, juicy, 

 and of fine flavor, Only second-rate as far north as Bos- 

 ton, but better further south. Ripens late in winter and 

 in spring. Shoots brownish-yellow, straggling; leaves 

 flat. Originated at the village of Ranee, near Mons, iD 

 Belgium. 



