54 A ccount of Pears formerly cultivated. 



Onion Pear ; or the Pomegranate Pear, as Mr. Bo- 

 bart calls \t.fig. 22. A middling specimen from an Espalier 

 on a Pear Stock, in Mr. Palmer's ground, gathered early in 

 October, 1716. It decays first on the outside, and began to 

 perish a little at a bruise on the head or crown, got by lyeing 

 so long upon it. It is a very good bearer in any form or 

 shape, or against a north wall, may be planted with success. 

 Is usually grafted on a Pear Stock. It shoots well and healthily, 

 not apt to run into strong gross wood; the colour of the 

 shoot is something like that of the Muscat Robert more than 

 that of the Virgolouze, being of a yellowish light brown colour. 

 This Pear comes usually of a pretty handsome size, and is of 

 a hardy nature ; it is flat at top, and roundish at bottom, but 

 longer on one side of the eye than the other ; but the eye 

 and stalk are much about the middle of the body. The Stalk 

 is of a brown russet colour, pounced a little with specks, 

 pretty thick and fleshy, somewhat curved or bent, hollow- 

 sett like an Apple, turning a little black and wrinkled with 

 keeping ; it takes a good hold of the fruit within : the fruit 

 is russety round about the stalk, and some way above it. 

 The Eye is sunk below the head or crown, retaining good 

 part of its blossom, pretty close made at top, blackish in 

 colour, without as also within, and a little hairy, preserving 

 part of the pendant of the blossom, of a middling or some- 

 times of a small size, rather square than roundish in its shape ; 

 deep and hollow a pretty way into the body : the head or 

 crown is a little ribbed, puckered, or contracted, and the skin 

 furrowed or chopped a little round about it : The skin is 

 pretty thick and tough, feeling a little rough, and hath some- 

 what of a sullen look ; it is at first palish green in its ground, 



