44 



PEARS, 



catalogue ; it is a great and certain bearer, ripens (in Eng- 

 land) from the end of September to the third week in October, 

 and is of first rate quality as a juicy melting sort. It is one of 

 the very best to graft upon the quince, and to cultivate en 

 quenoiiille. It is almost to be doubted whether Miller really 

 knew it, although he quotes it, since he calls it an indifferent 

 fruit, which he would have scarcely done, had he been ac- 

 quainted with the true kind. During the time when it is in 

 season, it yields to none in excellence. This must by no 

 means be confounded with the Doyenne gris, or Red Doyenne, 

 w^hich is rounded and keeps better, but is of inferior quality. 



Wood strong, bright chestnut colour, with brown spots ; 

 leaves lanceolate, folded together, recurved, with fine regular 

 serratures ; stipules linear, at some distance above the base of 

 the petiole, which is slender and of a whitish colour ; fruit 

 middle-sized, roundish oblong, narrowest at the stalk which is 

 about half an inch long and rather thick, inserted in a small 

 cavity ; eye placed in a shallow impression ; skin pale citron 

 yellow, sprinkled throughout with cinnamon more or less ac- 

 cording to its situation ; flesh white, juicy, very buttery and 

 delicious." 



I now proceed to give the description from Duhamel : 

 *' This pear is of handsome form ; it is well rounded, the 

 largest part being towards the head at about one third of its 

 height, from which it diminishes to the stem ; it is two inches 

 and six lines to three inches in height, its diameter in the 

 broadest part is generally about three lines less than two 

 inches ; the stem is large and strong, and only six or seven 

 lines long ; the eye is small and placed in a slight cavity ; the 

 skin is at first a greenish white, but becomes bright yellow in 

 ripening— -sometimes the side next the sun is a bright red co- 

 lour ; the flesh is melting, sweet, very agreeable, and often 

 somewhat perfumed ; it soon becomes stringy, and then loses 

 a great part of its excellence. The fruit ripens at the end of 

 September, and is frequently in eating during the month of 

 October ; the tree is very productive, and may be propagated 

 on cither pear or quince," 



