282 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 
russeted; flesh white, fine, melting, slightly gritty around the core; juice abundant, sugary, 
astringent; third or sometimes second; Nov. to Feb. 
Besi de Van Mons. 1. Mas Pom. Gen. 5:53, fig. 315. 1880. 
A Belgian variety, cataloged in 1864 by M. Jahn. Whether it was obtained by Van 
Mons or merely dedicated to him is unknown. Fruit small, globular-conic, more or Jess 
short, regular in outline, bright green, sown with numerous small, gray-green spots; flesh 
white, rather granular, buttery, a little gritty at the core, with abundant, sweet juice, 
acid, distinct perfume; good: Nov. 
Besi des Vétérans. 1. Mas Le Verger 1:127, fig. 62. 1866-73. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 
1:280, fig. 1867. 
Veterans. 3. Thomas Am. Fruit Cult. 716. 1897. 
Raised from seed by Van Mons about 1830. Fruit large, turbinate, clear yellow, 
very much dotted with grayish-brown specks of different sizes; flesh white, semi-melting, 
fine, buttery, with sufficient sweet juice, slightly acid; second for dessert, but first for 
stewing; ripens in Oct. and lasts occasionally even till Apr. The tree is a prolific bearer. 
Besi de Vindré. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:291, fig. 1867. 
Was cultivated in the garden of the Horticultural Society of Angers in 1838. Fruit 
small, globular, rather more swelled on one side than on the other, greenish-yellow, dotted 
with russet and streaked with russet about the calyx, and marked with brownish-fawn 
about the stem; flesh whitish, semi-fine, semi-melting and containing some grits around 
the core; juice sweet, not acid, rather savory; second; Oct. 
Besi de Wutzum. 1. Mas Pom. Gen. 7:110, fig. 540. 1881. 
Of uncertain origin. Fruit rather small, globular, regular in contour, largest circum- 
ference around center, forming short point at stem, pale green, sown with many fawn 
dots; on ripening the green changes to pale yellow and the sun-exposed side becomes 
golden and washed with red; flesh white, tinted with yellow, semi-fine, melting, rather 
gritty about the center, juicy, sugary; second; Oct. 
Bessemianka. 1. Mont. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 53, fig. 1881-2. 2. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 83. 1882. 
3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat. 40. 1909. 
A Russian variety recommended for cultivation by the American Pomological Society. 
It grows in Europe from the Gulf to the Volga as far north as Moscow and Kazan and is 
the most widely-known and most largely-grown pear in central Russia. J. L. Budd says, 
“This is beyond all doubt a true hybrid with a wild pear of Russia as the parent tree. 
The name means seedless, and it is rare, indeed, that more than the rudiment of a seed 
can be found.’’ Tree upright; leaves large, dark, thick, very slightly crenate, almost 
entire, stands aridity well. Fruit large, round-obovate, greenish-yellow, with some russety- 
brown; flesh gritty at the core, juicy, with few or no seeds, mild, pleasant; early Oct. 
Best Favorite. 1. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 178, 186. 1896. 2. J. V. Cotta Cat. 12, fig. 1898. 
From Winnebago County, Ill. Fruit medium, bronze-yellow, melting, juicy; good; 
ripening in Sept. 
Bettina. 1. Dochnahl Fuhr. Obstkunde 2:124. 1856. 
A seedling of Van Mons, first published in 1851. Fruit medium, conic or ventriculous- 
turbinate, acute, symmetrical in contour, green changing to lemon-yellow, dotted and 
