104 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



trade directory in which, full credit could be placed, and which, was received 

 in all quarters, so long as it was published, as an excellent authority and 

 guide. Whatever he wrote upon floral subjects was clever, practical, and 

 trustworthy. 



In establishing the National Floricultural Society he took a chief part and 

 interest, conducting for some time as Secretary the operations of an institu- 

 tion which was of great service to florists, and which laid down those rules and 

 laws of taste on which novelties and seedlings are still judged. Indeed, there 

 were few to compete with him in his quick and sure discernment as to the 

 relative merits or the individual excellence of flowers ; and his adjudications at 

 our principal exhibitions ever proved him to be as inflexible in asserting, as he 

 was wise in determining, his awards. He gave sentence strictly from the 

 evidence, whatever special pleading might say. For the arrangement and 

 management of a flower show he had a special aptitude, and that union of good 

 humour with firmness which so soon produces order and peace. 



We shall see him no more in these happy gatherings, among the flowers he 

 loved so well, but we will not forget the services which he rendered, nor forego 

 the sufferer's hope. — S. It. H. 



SUMMER DOYENNE PEAR. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



Synonymes. — Doyenne d'ete; Doyenne de Juillet ; DucJiesse de Berri d'ete ; St. 

 Michel d'ete ; Boi Jolimont ; Jolimont; Jolivet ; Brilsseler Somer-Dechants- 

 birne ; Julius Dechantshirne. 



This is the earliest Pear known. I have had it quite ripe by the 20th of 

 July, and if not gathered before the end of the month. I have found the crop 

 lying on the ground. Although so early, it is not one of those the flesh of 

 which is dry and mealy with a high musky flavour, but it is very juicy and 

 melting, with a flavour not unlike that of the Jargonelle. 



The Summer Doyenne was raised by Dr. Van Mons, and the earliest notice 

 we have of it is the mere mention of the name in his catalogue of 1823, in 

 which it stands No. 1 in the second series. He there states by the words "par 

 nous" which follow the name, that it was a seedling of his own. Doyenne 

 d'ete is, however, an unfortunate name, and may lead to confusion ; for it is a 

 synonyme of Franc Real d'Ete of the French, and the Runde Mundnetzbirne of 

 the Germans. To avoid mistakes on the part of English growers I have here 

 made use of Summer Doyenne, which is the name I have adopted in my Fruit 

 Manual. 



The fruit is small, and Doyenne-shaped, even and regularly formed. The 

 skin is quite smooth, and when ready for use is of a yellower green in the 

 shade, and dull red next the sun ; but when it becomes quite ripe, and is then 

 past its best, the green becomes of a deep yellow colour, and the red brilliant 

 crimson. Eye with short ovate segments, slightly open, placed in a very 

 shallow depression. Stalk an inch long, stout ; thick and fleshy at its union 

 with the fruit. Flesh tender, very juicy, sweet, and richly flavoured for a 

 summer Pear. 



It ripens in the middle and end of July, and requires to be gathered before 

 it assumes its yellow colour. The condition in which it is best is when the 

 colour is just changing to a yellowish tinge. 



The tree is a very excellent bearer, succeeds well on the quince, and forms 

 a handsome pyramid. — H. 



