THE PEAR SEASON OP 1876. 
25 
BELLE IMPl^RIALE PEACH. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
HIS is a late variety of Peach, well deserving to be better known and more 
extensively cultivated. It ripens about the same time as the Late 
Admirable, and is often highly coloured, like the Bellegarde. The sample 
from which our figure was made ripened about the middle of September, 
and having been grown under glass, is consequently somewhat deficient in colour. 
The fruit is large, somewhat ovate, being taller than broad and rather smaller 
upwards, marked with a shallow suture, and having a slight terminal depression. 
The skin is finely downy, of a pale greenish-yellow, more or less marbled with 
rosy crimson on the sunny side. The fiesh is pale greenish white, very juicy and 
tender, deeply stained with red at the stone, from which it freely parts ; it has a 
pleasant and refreshing flavour, fully equal to that of the best late varieties in 
cultivation. The leaves are crenate at the margins, and furnished with roundish 
reniform glands at their base. 
Mr. Scott, in the Orcliardist^ describes it as of the first size and quality, ripening 
in September, and he gives Admirable de Septembre as a synonym. He further 
states it is “ a variety of the Peach Bon Ouvrier, which it much resembles ; skin 
pale yellow, with a bright purple flush on the sunny side ; flesh vinous, sugary, 
rich, melting, and excellent. Introduced by me from Paris, 1867.”—T. Moore. 
THE PEAR SEASON OF 1876. 
(T is extremely difficult to name the correct time when Pears should ripen, 
for much depends upon the season, and the soil in which they grow. The 
flavour of some Pears is likewise determined by the seasons, and in the 
exceptional one of 1876, there has been a great difference both in ripening 
and flavour of some of the varieties grown here compared with other years. 
The soil of the kitchen garden here is of a stiff, adhesive nature, with the sub¬ 
soil of strong red clay, but well drained, and in dry, warm summers the Pear 
generally grows the strongest and shows the finest fruit. The spring of 1876 
was not, however, favourable for Pears setting their fruit well, especially on 
standards, and the crop was below the average. 
Of the earliest ripening section. Doyenne d^Ete\ Citron des Carmes^ Beurre 
Giffard, and Clapp’s Favourite^ grown as bushes on the quince stock, and ripen¬ 
ing as they did during the warm months of July and August, were excellent in 
flavour. Some trees of the Jargonelle^ double worked on the Beurre d’Amanlis as 
the stock, ripened their fruit juicier and of higher flavour than wall-grown fruit. 
In September, Louise Bonne of Jersey^ Souvenir du Congres^ Williams’ Bon Chretien 
Beurre Superfin^ and Beurre Bosc^ were the best-flavoured of the varieties 
grown here; and all are on the quince stock, and grown as bushes or pyramids. 
The principal collection of the mid-season and late Pears is grown here on a 
wire-trellised arcade, and they are mostly on the Pear stock. Comte de Lamy, 
3bd series.—X. D 
