1876. J 
PITMASTON DUCHESS PEAR. 
37 
to ripen seed, they would cease producing. A vegetable of equal importance with 
the Bean is the Pea^ and amongst the many varieties which were grown here last 
summer, Sutton’s Duchess of Edinburgh^ a tall-growing sort (7 ft. high), gave me 
good gatherings of large well-flavoured peas for several weeks ; being so tall a 
grower, it, however, requires good supports. For small gardens, where tall Peas 
cannot have justice done to them, I could recommend Sutton’s Bijou; it is a 
large pea, with good well-filled pods, and the plant grows about 2 ft. high. Tho 
row I had was literally covered from top to bottom, and as a second early sort I 
think it will be very valuable. Another most useful thing was a quite small com¬ 
pact Cabbage Lettuce^ Commodore Nutt, a variety which turns in very quickly, 
occupies very little room, and is very sweet to eat; it is, indeed, a little gem 
where two salads a day are required. Here it was preferred to the larger varieties, 
or even to Cos Lettuce. I can also recommend the Sulham Prize Celery, a pink 
variety, of stiff close habit, very sweet and crisp, and so far, one which appears to 
stand very well. 
Those of your readers who may not have grown these varieties of vegetables 
would not be disappointed if they were to add them to their seed-list.— John 
Clark, Studley Royal. 
PITMASTON DUCHESS PEAK. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
QjOwRIGINALLY this Pear was called Pitmaston Duchesse d’Angouleme, and 
if is figured under this name in the Gardeners’ Chronicle (18G4, 1108), 
^ where it is described by Mr. Eobert Thompson. We, however, follow Dr. 
‘V Hogg in abbreviating the name to Pitmaston Duchess, which is more dis¬ 
tinctive, as, though a seedling from Duchesse d’Angouleme, it bears no resem¬ 
blance to that variety. The specimens figured are from the gardens at 
Tortworth Court, where it is held in high estimation. 
The tree, as we learn from Mr. Cramb, “ is of a vigorous habit, particularly 
when grafted on the Pear stock, and so fruitful as scarcely ever to miss a crop 
even during unfavourable seasons, whether grown as a bush, or pyramid, or 
standard. The fruit is generally in use from the beginning to the end of 
October, varying a little according to the season. The average weight is from 
10 oz. to 12 oz., and for exhibition purposes it has few, if any, equals. The 
flavour is excellent, not quite so sugary as many of our autumn sorts, but still 
first-class ; the flesh is in a high degree melting, very juicy, and perfumed. No 
collection should be without this very desirable Pear, did it possess no other 
good quality than that of having a fine appearance.” . ^ 
Mr. Thompson, in the original description above referred to, states as to its 
origin, that the Pear was raised by the late John Williams, Esq., of Pitmaston, 
in 1841, and is a cross between the Duchesse d'Angouleme and Glou Morceau; 
he further refers to it as a very handsome and most excellent variety, and adds, 
“ few of the new Pears can compare with it as regards size, appearance, and 
