THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 281 
Besi de Naghin. 1. Guide Prat. 86. 1895. 
On trial with Simon-Louis of Metz, Lorraine, in 1895. Fruit above medium, apple- 
shaped; in character it is an improvement on the Chaumontel but its flesh is less firm, 
finer and more piquant; its perfume is similar, and it has less bitterness than is often 
found in the older fruit; Jan. 
Besi de la Pierre. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:283, fig. 1867. 
A gain of A. de la Farge, Salers, Fr., from a bed of mixed seeds made in 1847. Fruit 
medium and often less, ovate, regular in form, slightly swelled and bossed, lemon-yellow, 
partly covered with dots, marblings, and stains of fawn especially around the eye and the 
stem; flesh whitish, semi-fine, melting; juice extremely abundant, saccharine, vinous, 
very delicate; first; all Oct. to mid-Nov. 
Beside Quessoy. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom.1:285, fig. 1867. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 508. 1884. 
Bezy de Caissoy. 3. Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:178, Pl. XXIX. 1768. 
Merlet stated in 1675 that this variety was said to have been found originally in the 
forest of Quessoy near Saint-Brieuc. It was known locally as the Rousette or the 
Petit Boeuré d’Hiver and was propagated at the beginning of the seventeenth century. 
Fruit borne in clusters, small, globular or ovate; skin rough, yellowish-green, much 
russeted; flesh white, delicate, melting, gritty around the core, aromatic and savory; 
second; ripens in succession from Nov. or Dec. till Feb. 
Besi de Saint-Waast. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:286, 287, fig. 1867. 
Bezit Vaet. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 702. 1869. 
Van Mons was of the opinion that the Besi de Saint-Waast originated at the Benedictine 
Abbey of Saint-Vaast, Fr. Fruit above medium, obovate, obtuse, narrowing toward the 
stalk but variable; skin thick, yellow, dotted with fawn, extensively washed with red- 
brown on the side exposed to the sun; flesh rather white, fine, semi-breaking, very juicy, 
tather gritty at the center, saccharine, acid, with a pleasant aroma suggestive of the 
Chaumontel; a first-class dessert pear in Europe but hardly more than a good second-rate 
fruit in this country; Nov. to Jan. 
Besi Sans Pareil. 1. Guide Prat. 78, 240. 1876. 
Besi Incomparable. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:275, fig. 1867. 
Besi Sanspareitl. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 702. 1869. 
Bonnefonds mentioned this pear in 1651 under the names of Saw-Pair or Nonparetile, 
as also did Saint-Etienne in 1660 and Olivier de Serres in 1608. Introduced to this 
country about the year 1850. Fruit medium, spherical or globular-oval, generally rather 
symmetrical, lemon-yellow, slightly greenish, dotted and mottled with fawn, blushed 
with brownish-red on the side exposed to the sun; flesh white, semi-fine, rather melting, 
very juicy, vinous, saccharine, sourish, having an extremely agreeable aroma; first; Oct. 
to Feb. 
Besi Tardif. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:288, fig. 1867. 2. Mas Pom. Gen. 7:57, fig. 509. 
1881. 
Raised in 1845 by M. Goubault, Angers, Fr., this variety was described in 1846, and 
in 1847 was declared by the Horticultural Society of Maine-et-Loire to be worthy of 
cultivation. Fruit medium or below, globular, bossed, greenish-yellow, dotted, and 
