THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 28 . 
217 
tural Society. From various parts of tbc country there 
were some very fine specimens of the best late Pears 
exhibited, and among these some from our excellent 
coadjutor, IMr. Errington, who, if we mistake not, resides 
in a district which is not remarkable either for the 
superiority of its soil or climate; but still he was 
enabled to compete with those who are more highly 
favoured. We hope we shall live to see the day when 
such varieties as Olout Moroeau, Passe Colmar, Ne Plus 
Meuris, and Beurre de Ranee, will be oflered in Covent 
Garden Market during the winter and spring months, 
i in quantities as great as the Lammas, Williams' Bon 
Chretien, and Bergamots are during the early autumn. 
There is no reason why it should not ho so, if com¬ 
mercial growers coiild only be brought to see what their 
own interest is. The gi-eatest London market-gardeners 
have long found out tlie value of such crops, and it is 
by them that the market and fruiterers are mainly sup- 
^ plied; but the country oi-chardists are wholly ignorant 
of, or perfectly easy on the subject. We do hope they 
will bestir themselves in this matter, and thereby benefit 
themselves and the public also. 
We had not space last week to finish our remarks on 
the selection of Pears, and consequently resume the 
subject. 
13. llacon’s Incomparable. —A very excellent and 
hardy Pear, which is in use during December and 
January. It is of good size, and the flesh is buttery 
and melting, with a rich, sugary, and vinous flavour, 
and liigbly perfumed. 
11. Broomparle. —This is one of the finest varieties 
raised by Mr. Knight. It is particularly rich and highly- 
flavoured, and the tree is very hardy. It is not as yet 
in general cultivation, but we can strongly recommend 
it as one of the very best winter Pears. It ripens in 
January. 
15. Nelis d'lliver. —If we grew only six Pears, this 
would be one of them. It is certainly one of the richest 
of all our winter varieties. The tree is not, from its 
natural habit, adapted for orchard planting, and must, 
therefore, be grafted standard high on some strong 
growing sort. The fruit, although of larger size from 
an espalier than from a standard, is, nevertheless, 
equally as rich in flavour, and attains as high a degree 
of perfection when grown on the latter. It ripens in 
December, and continues in use till February. 
10. Shohden Court. —This is but very little known; 
but being very hardy, and succeeding well as a standard, 
it ought to receive a greater extent of cultivation than 
it at present has. It is a very first-rate variety, of an 
exceedingly rich flavour, and is at maturity during tlie 
months of January and February, 
17. Ne Plus Meuris. —This would, in our estimation, 
be another of six. It is one of the very best late Pears, 
and is at this season, along with Nelis d’Hiver, the most 
highly esteemed of any in the market. It is very richly 
flavoured, and is in use from December till March. 
18. Easter Beurre. —This is a fine, large, and band- 
some fruit, w'hich was introduced, not very many years 
ago, by the Horticultural Society, from Belgium. It is 
of first-rate quality, fine-grained, buttery, and richly- 
flavoured. It is in use from January till March. 
10. March Bergamot. —This is another of tliose hardy 
and richly-flavoured varieties, for which we are indebted 
to the industry of Mr. Knight, the late President of the 
Horticultural Society, and one which ought to be in all 
collections. We all know how difficult it is to obtain 
very late Pears of the best quality, and how few there 
are which keep till the spring months; it is, therefore, 
with much gratitude that we hear of anything which 
will fill the void which is too apt to be felt at this season. 
We know of none better adapted for this end than the 
March Bergamot and the following variety. This Ber¬ 
gamot is a medium sized fruit, of an exceedingly rich 
flavour, and as it is very hardy, it will be found an 
excellent variety for general planting. It is in use during 
March and April. 
20. Beurre de Ranee. —We do not exaggerate when 
we say that this is, perhaps, the most valuable Pear we 
have, for it is in use at a season when all others are 
gone. There are, it is true, some new varieties lately in¬ 
troduced, which purport to be as late, and even later; 
but before we have given these a fair trial, and have 
had as much experience of them as we have of Beurre 
de Ranee, we must, in the meantime, give this the palm. 
It is a very rich, melting, and deliciously-flavoured 
Pear, and is in use from March till May. 
We have thus given a list of twenty of the best dessert 
Pears we consider suitable for the purpose we have been 
treating of; we shall now, by way of variety, furnish the 
remaining four, as the best adapted for culinary use. 
21. Vicar of Winhfield. —A very large and handsome 
fruit, which, when grown against a wall with a south or 
west exposure, is melting, and well-flavoured; but when 
grown as a standard forms one of the finest stewing 
Pears w'e know. Its great size and fine-grained flesh 
are great recommendations to it. It is in use from 
November till January. 
22. Bellissime d'Hiver. —Another lai’ge, handsome, 
fine-grained fruit, far superior to the Catellar, or any of 
the old varieties. It is in use from November till April. 
23. Bon Chretien d'Hiver. —One of the most highly 
esteemed of the old French dessert Pears among the old 
gardeners both of this country and the continent. To 
have it at maturity it requires a wall, even in a good 
situation; but if grown as a standard, the fruit is ad¬ 
mirably adapted for compotes. In cooking it becomes | 
very tender and fine-grained, and its juice becomes a 1 
syrup, which contains a perfume and natural sugar, | 
which cannot be communicated artificially. It is in use 
from December till March. 
21. Franc Real d'Hiver. — Another very excellent 
stewing Pear, which before cooking is coarse and 
husky, but very juicy and aromatic; but when stewed 
becomes tender and of a fine bright light purple colour. 
It is in use from January till March. 
We shall conclude our remarks on this subject by 
just calling the attention of our readers to one or two 
other fruits, which may he advantageously and profitably 
planted in such situations; we mean i\iQ Damson and 
