50 Account of Pears formerly cultivated. 



Le Chasserie, or Ice Pear. fig. 17. A very good 

 specimen, hand-gathered 7 th October, 1715, from the tree, 

 on a Pear Stock in the middle of five, aspected north and 

 south from the western division of the Pear-hedge to the 

 south of the Melon ground. Eaten on the 8 th of November, 

 in rare order, and a little perfumed. The Le Chasserie is a 

 Pear of a middling size, rather long than round, or as one 

 may say, oval round ; it is sometimes short in its make, and 

 then it is next upon round, but generally it is longish, and 

 affects to be spired or to draw towards a point at each end, 

 but oftener at the head ; and its dimensions are widest about 

 the middle, which warrants the description of it to be oval 

 round. It hath a smooth polished glossy thin Skin, of a light 

 bright green colour, but its tincture not so deep as the Sucre 

 Vert, speckled or pounced with russet, up and down the 

 body, with a long and very thick fleshy Stalk projecting 

 from the body, almost quite straight in its shape, but much 

 pounced or streaked with dashes or specks of a brownish, or 

 mealy white colour, like bran, encircled at the top of it most 

 commonly with russet, and sometimes round the eye. The 

 Eye is generally projecting above the top of the head or 

 crown, rather large than small in size, pretty open and 

 hollow, but not deep. The Pulp is pretty melting and 

 yielding, almost buttery, well furnished with sweet sugared 

 juice, sometimes a little perfumed, but seldom gritty. This 

 Pear turns yellower and lighter as it grows ripe, smelling a 

 little sweetish, and grows soft soon after. It loves a dry 

 ground and warm weather, and then the flavour is advanced 

 in goodness. It is but a middling bearer; and here in 

 England doth not take so well, nor come to that perfection 



