PLATE LXVI. 
4. DUCHESSE D’ANGOULEME. 
[Syn : Eparonnais ; Duchesse ; De PEdnas.\ 
The original tree of this pear was observed by M. Anne-Pierre Andusson, nurseryman at 
Angers, growing in the garden of the farm of Eparonnais, near Champigne, in Anjou, and having 
procured grafts from it, he sold the trees, in 1812, under the name of “ Poire des Eparonnais.” In 
1820, he sent a basket of the fruit to the Duchesse d’Angouleme, with a request to be permitted to 
name the pear in honour of her. The request was granted, and the pear has since borne its present 
name. 
A coloured drawing is given in the Transactions of the London Horticultural Society , Vol. 
VII., Plate 4, and in the Pontological Magazine , Plate 76. 
Description. —Fruit : large, often very large, three inches and a half wide, and three inches 
and three quarters high, but generally smaller ; roundish obovate, but very uneven and bossed in its 
outline. Skin : greenish yellow, changing to pale dull yellow, covered with veins and freckles of 
pale brown russet, and when grown against a south wall it acquires a brownish cheek. Eye : open, 
with erect, dry segments, set in a deep, irregular basin. Stalk : an inch long, inserted in a deep, 
irregular cavity. Flesh : white, buttery and melting, with a rich flavour when well ripened ; but 
generally from bad situations it is coarse-grained and half melting: It is always juicy and sweet. 
A dessert pear sometimes of great excellence, ripe during October and November. 
The tree grows vigorously and well. It bears abundantly, and succeeds either on the pear 
or quince stock, forming handsome pyramids, but is better on the quince. Grown against a wall, 
when the fruit is well thinned, it sometimes attains an enormous size. 
