92 



PEARS. 



greatest diameter ; the flesh melting, abounding exceedingly 

 in sweet perfumed juice, with a trifling degree of acidity and 

 of the most exquisite taste. Of ten seeds contained in it, four 

 were abortive, the others were large and perfect and of a light 

 brown hue. The fruit ripens in December, and from appear- 

 ance soon becomes soft. It was transmitted to M. Michel, one 

 of the editors of the work, by M. Vanakere of Lille." 



WINTER BONCHRETIEN. Pr. cat. Evel. Mil. For. Coxe. 



Bon Chretien d'Mver. Quin. Roz. Mil. 

 Good Christian of winter. 

 Winter good Christian, 

 Poire d^Angoise. 



The pears of this variety are usually four inches in height 

 and three in breadth ; but there are frequently however some 

 whose dimensions much exceed this. Duhamel himself states 

 having met with them measuring six inches long and four in 

 diameter. The usual form is that of a truncate pyramid — - 

 they likewise often resemble a young calebash ; the head is 

 very large and the eye is placed in a depression more or less 

 hollowed, surrounded by protuberances which extend over a 

 part of the surface of the fruit in such a manner as to form 

 angular ridges — the end next to the stem diminishes greatly in 

 size, but without terminating in a point ; on the contrary, it is 

 nearly always obliquely truncate or obtuse, and the stem, which 

 is in general very long, being always tw^o and a half inches or 

 more in length, is also inserted obliquely, with protuberances 

 and ridges around its insertion. The skin is light green, 

 which varies to yellow at full maturity, and in good expositions 

 the side next the sun acquires a faint tint of red ; the flesh is 

 breaking, rather delicate, very dry when it is not perfectly ripe 

 and mature, but when it has fully attained that point, it becomes 

 pretty abundant in sweet juice, which even has a small degree 

 of odour. The seeds rarely attain to a perfect state, and in 

 general are half abortive, and in some cases entirely so. This 

 fruit begins to ripen in February and keeps until May, not be- 



