PLATE LXVIII. 
5. MARIE BENOIST. 
This pear was raised by M. Anguste Benoist, a nurseryman at Brissac, not far from Angers, 
(c, 1850) and named after his daughter Marie. 
Description. —Fruit: large, irregularly turbinate, and more swollen one side than the other. 
Skin : bright green, dotted and lined with russet, and covered with patches of fawn coloured russet. 
Eye : small, open, and deeply set. Stalk : very short and thick, obliquely inserted, with a large 
swelling on one side of it. Flesh : white, tender, very melting and slightly gritty, very juicy, 
sweet, and delicately perfumed. 
An excellent dessert pear, ripe during January and February, a very valuable addition to 
late pears. 
The tree makes a good pyramid on the quince stock, grows well and bears freely. 
