452 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



pear stocks, is by biennial removal, — in this way 

 they become nearly as prolific as those on quince 

 stocks ; and what is of great importance, in light 

 gravelly or chalky soils they will to a certainty 

 succeed where pears on quince stocks will as 

 certainly fail." 



Protecting the blossom of the pear in spring. — 

 Many varieties of the pear blossom early, and 

 consequently are exceedingly liable, especially 

 the Jersey and French sorts, to sustain injury 

 from spring frosts. The protection of the blos- 

 som is therefore a matter of great importance. 

 Those on the walls can readily be secured from 

 injury by the use of portable wooden copings, 

 as elsewhere described, and securing to them 

 thin semi-transparent canvass, as recommended 

 for the protection of the blossom of the peach 

 and apricot. Pears trained as pyramids, parti- 

 cularly when wrought on the quince stock, are 

 readily protected also ; and we have found no 

 way better than driving in three larch poles, a 

 foot higher than the tree, and fastening three 

 hoops to them — one near the bottom, another 

 at half the height of the tree, and the third 

 quite at the top. These hoops form cylinder- 

 shaped frames, and to them thin canvass should 

 be secured, which will not only ward off any 

 ordinary degree of frost, but also protect the 

 blossom and embryo leaves from the parching 

 effects of our cold easterly vrinds. 



Criterion of a good pear— Dessert sorts. — Des- 

 sert pears should be of medium size, or larger, 

 of a sugary aromatic flavour ; the flesh soft, 

 sub-liquid or melting, as in the case of most of 

 the Beurres or butter pears ; or of a firm and 

 crisp consistence, or breaking, as in the winter 

 bergamots. High colouring seldom accompanies 

 high flavour in this fruit. The Glout Morceau, 

 Seckel, and Chaumontelle offer examples of this. 



Culinary sorts should be large, falling when 

 stewed, the flesh firm, and rather austere than 

 sweet. Firm -fleshed sorts are preferred for 

 compotes, and the falling sorts for marmalade. 



SELECT LIST OF DESSERT PEARS. 



Aston Town — Colour yellowish green ; form 

 roundish ; size under medium ; quality first- 

 rate. In use in October and November. An 

 abundant bearer, and excellent standard pear in 

 the south, requiring, and fully meriting, a wall 

 in the coldest parts of Scotland. This excellent 

 hardy pear originated near the village of Aston 

 in Cheshire. The tree is characterised by its 

 long slender branches, which have a half- 

 twisted dangling appearance. It is especially 

 worthy of notice in an unfavourable soil and 

 cold climate. In the midland districts of Scot- 

 land it succeeds well as a standard. 



Andrew's. — Colour pale yellowish green, with 

 a dull red cheek, and a few scattered dots ; size 

 rather above medium ; form pyriform, some- 

 what one-sided ; quality excellent. In use in 

 September. Of American origin, and there held 

 in high repute. Downing describes it as of 

 most excellent flavour, a certain and regular 

 beai-er, even while young ; and the tree, which 

 is very hardy, never suffers from bhght. 



BeadneU's seedling. — Orygcaa.'ieS. from seed 

 with Mr Beadnell of Tottenham ; described by 

 Mr Thomson as a middle-sized fruit ; form tur- 

 binate ; colour pale yellowish green on the shaded 

 side, red next the sun, much speckled with 

 whitish-grey dots. In use at Chiswiok from 

 the middle of September to the middle of Oc- 

 tober. Tree vigorous, and an abundant bearer ;■ 

 flesh melting ; flavour exceedingly rich. In Mr 

 Thomson's description of this pear in the "Jour- 

 nal of the Horticultural Society," he says, " It 

 is not buttery, but so melting, when used in its 

 full perfection, that one can scarcely say whether 

 he is not rather drinking than eating. This va- 

 riety cannot fail to be very acceptable on account 

 of its rich, abundant, and highly-refreshing 

 juice." 



Belle et bonne. — Colour yellowish green ; form 

 roundish ; size large ; quaUty good. In use in 

 September. An abundant bearer ; requiring a 

 wall in most places. Of Belgian origin. Sy- 

 nonym — Gracieuse. 



Bloodgood. — Colour yellow, sprinkled with 

 russet dots ; form turbinate ; size medium ; 

 quality one of the highest flavoured of aU early 

 pears. In use during August. Of American 

 origin ; brought into notice in 1835. So highly 

 is it prized in America that Downing says of it, 

 that it surpasses every European variety of the 

 same season ; and together with Dearborn's 

 seedling, another New- World sort, will supplant 

 in all their gardens even the jargonelle and all 

 inferior early peai-s. 



Bergamot, autumn.— Colour greenish brown ; 

 form round ; size under medium ; quality ex- 

 cellent, the flavour being peculiar and rich. In 

 use during October. One of our oldest varie- 

 ties, and bearing best on aged trees. Succeeds 

 in most situations as a standard. Synonyms — 

 Common bergamot, English bergamot, York ber- 

 gamot. This is one of the oldest pears known, 

 and supposed by pomologists to have been in 

 England since the Roman invasion. Mangor 

 conjectures it to be of Turkish origin, and to 

 have been originally called Begarmoud (princely 

 pear) , from the Turkish beg or bey, and armoud 

 a pear. 



Bergamot, Gansal's. — Colour yellowish brown ; 

 size above medium, sometimes large ; form flatly 

 obovate. In use in October and November. 

 Quality excellent. Of English origin, from a 

 seed of the autumn bergamot, but very superior 

 to it. It is well ascertained that this excellent 

 pear originated about 1768 with General Gansal, 

 of Donneland Hall, Essex. From some defect 

 in the fructification, it does not set well, although 

 it produces a sufficiency of blossom, and hence 

 it has been suggested to work every other branch 

 with some other variety that flowers at the same 

 period, with a view that the one sort may im- 

 pregnate the other. Indeed, so excellent a pear 

 merits the little trouble that would arise, were 

 the blossoms to be impregnated artificially by 

 the hand. Requires a wall in all situations. 

 Rather a shy bearer. Synonyms — Bonne rouge, 

 Jve's bergamot, Brocas bergamot, Diamant, Staun- 

 ton, Gurle's beurrS. 



Bergamot, Gansal's, late. — Raised by Mr Wil- 

 liams of Pitmaston ; ripens in December, and 



