446 
THE PEAR. 
compares, perhaps, more nearly with the favourite old Doyenne 
or Virgalieu, than any other fruit, and adds, when in perfection, 
a delicate perfume, peculiarly its own. Its handsome size and 
appearance, and remarkably healthy habit, commend it for those 
districts where, from neglect or bad soil, the Doyenne does not 
flourish. The tree is a moderately vigorous grower, and though 
it does not begin to bear so early as some of the new varieties, 
it yields abundant and regular crops, and gives every indication 
of a long-lived, hardy variety. For the orchard or garden in 
the middle states, therefore, we consider it indispensable. With 
so many other fine sorts, we owe this to the Flemish, it having 
been originated by the Count de Coloma, of Malines. It was 
first introduced into this country in 1823 . Young shoots up- 
right, short-jointed, greyish yellow. 
Fruit of medium size, often large, pyramidal obovate. Skin 
smooth and fair, pale yellow, with gray dots, and a few russet 
