546 



THE PEAR. 



perry is made from tlie wild pear, which is altogether unfit either for the 

 kitchen or the dessert. 



1157. The varieties of pear cultivated by the Romans, Pliny informs us, 

 were numerous ; in France they have long been more so than the varieties of 

 the apple ; and hence the kinds in former cultivation in this country were 

 obtained from France, and generally required the protection of walls. Since 

 the peace of 1815, however, many new and hardy varieties of pear have 

 been introduced from Belgium, where the cultivation and improvement of this 

 fruit has, till lately, been more attended to than anywhere else. Some excel- 

 lent and very hardy varieties have also been raised by the late Mr. Knight, so 

 that the old French varieties, with the exception of some of superior excel- 

 lence, such as the Jargonelle, are rapidly disappearing from our gardens. 

 In 1812 more than 700 sorts had been proved, in the Horticultural So- 

 ciety's Gardens, to be distinct, as appears by the Society's Fruit Catalogue. 

 The following selections from this large number have been made for us by 

 Mr. Thompson, 



1158. Dessert Pears arranged in the order of their ripening and keeping. 

 Citron des Carmes, syn. Madeleine. Middle size, obovate, yellowish 



green, tender, juicy ; July ; a good bearer, and an upright growing tree. 



Jargonelle, syn. Epargne. Large, pyriform, greenish yellow, tender, 

 juicy, rich, and melting ; August ; a good bearer. The tree generally re- 

 quires a wall, for Jike the Cohnar, Brown Beurre, and many old French 

 varieties, its constitution is not adapted to withstand the vicissitudes to which 

 standards are subjected ; but as the fruit ripens in the hottest part of the 

 season, it will succeed on any aspect, even facing the north. 



Summer St. Germain. Middle size, obovate, pale green, tender and 

 juicy ; August and September; a good bearer as a standard, and a vigorous- 

 growing tree. 



Ambrosia, syn. Early Beurre. Middle size, roundish, greenish yellow, 

 buttery and rich ; September ; a good bearer, and a strong growing tree. 



Dunmore. Large oblong-obovate, greenish yellow, and smooth brown 

 russet, buttery, melting and rich ; September ; a hardy vigorous tree, and 

 bears abundantly as a standard. 



Fondante d'Automne. Middle size, obovate, greenish brown, melting 

 and rich ; September and October ; a good bearer, and a hardy tree. 



White Doyenne, syn. White Beurre. Above the middle size, obovate, 

 pale yellow, buttery, deliquescent ; September and October ; a great bearer, 

 and producing fruit of the best flavour when grown as a standard. 



Seckle., syn. New York Red Cheek. Small, obovate, brownish yellow 

 and red, tender, juic}'-, high aroma ; October ; a good bearer as a standard. 



Louise Bonne of Jersey. Large, pyriform, greenish brown and red, 

 melting ; October and November ; a good bearer as a standard. 



Marie Louise, syn. Braddick's Field Standard. Large, oblong, greenish 

 yellow and brown, melting, buttery, delicious ; October and November ; a 

 great bearer, and a hardy tree. 



Beurre Bosc, syn. Calebasse Bosc. Large, pyriform, russeted, of a cinna- 

 mon colour, l)uttery and high flavoured; October and November; a 

 moderate bearer, and best grown as a standard. 



Gansel's Bergamot, syn. Bonne Rouge. Large, obovate, yellow russet 

 brown, melting, buttery, high flavoured ; October and November ; a 

 moderate bearer, and best adapted for being grown against a wall. 



