158 



REPORT ON THE 



No. 24 



SECKEL. 



The finest dessert pear in culti- 

 vation, and one that should never 

 be omitted from the garden, when 

 planting pears for home use. Down- 

 ing calls it "The richest and most 

 exquisitelj- 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 oi 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 1810. 



Tree : healthy, hardy, and pro- 

 ductive ; forms a compact sj'mmetrical 

 head ; wood olive brown in color, 

 stout and short jointed ; succeeds best 

 as a dwarf. 



Fbcit : size small, form obovate, 

 regular and even ; color dull brownish 

 green, yellowing as it ripens with a 

 deep brownish red cheek ; stem half 

 an inch in length, in a very small cav- 

 ity ; 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 clafa where not known, on account of 

 its small size. 



Seapox : September to October. 



