Chapter IV: Leading Varieties of Pears (1)

ANDRÉ DESPORTES

=1.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:127, fig. 1867. =2.= Mas _Pom. Gen._ =3=:51, fig. 122. 1878. =3.= _Cat. Cong. Pom. France_ 138, fig. 1906.

This old French sort is sparingly grown in New York, and is still listed by a few American nurserymen. The pears are handsome and very good in quality, but they quickly soften at the center and neither keep nor ship well. While usually of medium size, or sometimes large, the pears often run small. The variety is well worth planting in a collection, but has no value in a commercial plantation, and there are many better sorts for home orchards.

The parent tree of this variety grew in the seed beds of M. André Leroy, the well-known authority on pomology, at Angers, France. M. Leroy obtained it in 1854 from pips of Williams' Bon Chrétien, or as it is better known here, the Bartlett pear. He named it after the son of M. Baptiste Desportes, manager of the business department of his establishment. The vigor and high quality of the fruit were quickly appreciated, and the variety was soon disseminated far and wide.

Tree characteristically upright and vigorous, rapid-growing, hardy, productive; branches slender, smooth, light brown overlaid with thin, grayish scarf-skin, marked with small lenticels; branchlets thick, long, with short internodes, reddish-brown, slightly streaked toward the tips with ash-gray scarf-skin, dull, smooth, glabrous, with numerous small, but very conspicuous, raised lenticels.

Leaf-buds large, pointed, plump, appressed. Leaves 2-3/4 in. long, 1-5/8 in. wide, ovate, stiff, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin glandular, slightly crenate; petiole 1-1/2 in. long. Flower-buds large, long, conical, plump, free, arranged singly as lateral buds or on short spurs; flowers showy, 1-1/4 in. across, occasionally tinged pink, in dense clusters, averaging 9 flowers per cluster; pedicels 3/4 in. long, thick, pubescent.

Fruit ripe in August; medium in size, 2-7/8 in. long, 2-1/4 in. wide, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, symmetrical, uniform; stem 1 in. long, thick, curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, dotted with russet, often lipped; calyx small, open; lobes separated at the base, short, narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, gently furrowed, symmetrical; skin thin, tender, smooth; color dull greenish-yellow, dotted and marbled with reddish-brown, blushed on the sunny side; dots numerous, small, light colored, obscure; flesh tinged with yellow, fine, tender and melting, buttery, juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds small, wide, plump, acute.

ANSAULT

=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1883. =2.= _Can. Hort._ =24=:454, fig. 2169. 1901.

_Bonne du Puits-Ansault._ =3.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:486, fig. 1867. =4.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 1st App. 123, fig. 1872. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 34. 1877.

Well grown, the fruits of Ansault rival those of Seckel in quality. In particular, the flesh is notable, and is described by the term _buttery_, so common in pear parlance, rather better than that of any other pear. The rich sweet flavor, and distinct but delicate perfume contribute to make the fruits of highest quality. Unfortunately, the pears are not very attractive in appearance. They are small, and the green coat, nearly covered with russet dots and markings, is dull, though enlivened somewhat at full maturity by a rich yellow. The tree in good pear soils is vigorous, productive, bears annually, and is not more subject to blight than that of the average variety. While not at all suitable for commercial orchards, Ansault should find a place in every collection of pears for home use.

The pear Bonne du Puits-Ansault was raised from seed in the nurseries of M. André Leroy, Angers, France. The parent tree bore fruit in 1863, and M. Leroy states that the name which it bears is that of the enclosure where it was first raised. It was propagated in 1865. The American Pomological Society first listed this variety in its catalog in 1877, and in 1883 shortened the name to its present form.

Tree large, upright-spreading, hardy, very productive; trunk stocky, shaggy; branches thick, dull brownish-red, tinged with green and heavily covered with greenish scarf-skin, with numerous raised lenticels; branchlets long, reddish-brown, with traces of gray scarf-skin, smooth, glabrous, with few inconspicuous, small, slightly raised lenticels.

Leaf-buds plump, pointed, nearly free. Leaf-scars prominent. Leaves numerous, 2-3/4 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, ovate or broadly oval, leathery; apex abruptly pointed; margin finely serrate, with small, reddish, sharp-pointed glands; petiole 1-1/2 in. long, slender, glabrous. Fruit-buds large, conical, plump, free; flowers 1-1/8 in. across, in dense clusters, 7 to 9 flowers in a cluster; pedicels 5/8 in. long, thick, greenish, lightly pubescent.

Fruit ripe in late September and early October; medium in size, 2-3/8 in. long, 2-1/8 in. wide, uniform, obtuse-obovate-pyriform, irregular; stem 5/8 in. long, short, thick; cavity obtuse, russeted, furrowed, ribbed; calyx partly open, large; lobes acute; basin somewhat abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled; skin roughened with russet markings and dots; color pale yellow, considerably russeted about the basin and cavity with russet dots, with scattered flecks and patches of russet; dots numerous, small, russet; flesh tinged with yellow, granular at the center, melting and tender, buttery, very juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality good to very good. Core closed, axile, the core-lines clasping; calyx-tube long, narrow, funnel-shaped; seeds rather short, plump, obtuse.

BARTLETT

=1.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 334, fig. 134. 1845. =2.= _Horticulturist_ =2=:169. 1847-48. =3.= _Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr._ 29. 1848. =4.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =2=:11, Pl. 1851. =5.= _Horticulturist_ N. S. =3=:350, Pl. 1853. =6.= Field _Pear Cult._ 190, 276, fig. 66. 1858. =7.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 666, fig. 1869. =8.= Ont. Dept. Agr. _Fr. Ont._ 148, fig. 1914.

_Williams' Bon Chrétien._ =9.= Lindley _Guide Orch. Gard._ 350. 1831. =10.= Prince _Pom. Man._ =1=:137. 1831. =11.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 664. 1884.

_Williams' Apothekerbirne_. =12.= Dochnahl _Führ. Obstkunde_ =2=:181. 1856.

_Bon Chrétien Williams'._ =13.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 16, Pl. 16. 1863. =14.= Mas _Le Verger_ 2:23, fig. 10. 1866-73.

_Williams._ =15.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =2=:758, fig. 1869.

_Williams Christbirne._ =16.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =II=: No. 18, Pl. 18. 1882. =17.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 298. 1889.

Bartlett leads all other pears in number of trees in New York, and vies with Kieffer for the greatest number in America. Its fruits are more common and more popular in American markets than those of any other pear. When the characters of the variety are passed in review, although several poor ones of fruit and tree appear, the popularity of Bartlett with growers and sellers, if not with consumers, seems justified. As with the leading variety of any fruit, the preëminently meritorious character of this one is its great adaptability to different climates, soils, and situations. Thus, Bartlett is grown with profit in every pear-growing region in America and in all is grown in greater quantities than any other sort excepting, perhaps, the notorious Kieffer. Another character which commends this variety to pear-growers is fruitfulness--barring frosts or freezes, the trees bear full crops year after year. Moreover, the trees are very vigorous, attain large size, bear young, live long, are easily managed in the orchard, and thrive on both standard and quince stocks. The pears are large, handsome, of good but not of the best quality, and keep and ship remarkably well.

Bartlett is not without serious faults, however. The trees blight badly, and are not much above the average in resistance to blight, the black plague of the pear. Neither are they as hardy to cold or to heat as those of some other varieties. They are scarcely hardier to cold than those of the peach, and cannot withstand the summer heat of the southern, or of the Mississippi Valley states. Another serious defect of the trees is that, more than those of any other standard variety, their blossoms require cross-fertilization. The fruits are satisfactory in all characters excepting quality. There are many better-flavored pears. The fruits lack the rich, perfumed flavor of Seckel on one hand, and the piquant, vinous taste of Winter Nelis on the other. But the pears are much above the average in quality, and since no other variety is so easily grown, nor so reliable in the markets, Bartlett promises long to continue its supremacy for home and commercial plantations. After Kieffer, it is the most desired of all pears by the canning trade. Bartlett is the parent of several other well-known varieties, and of many sorts of small importance.

This pear was found as a wilding by a Mr. Stair, a schoolmaster at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England. From him it was acquired by a Mr. Williams, a nurseryman at Turnham Green, Middlesex, and as it was propagated and distributed by him it became known by his name, although it is still known as Stair's pear at Aldermaston. It was brought to this country in 1797 or 1799 by James Carter of Boston for Thomas Brewer who planted the variety in his grounds at Roxbury, Massachusetts, under the name of Williams' Bon Chrétien, by which name it was then and still is known both in England and France. In 1817 Enoch Bartlett, Dorchester, Massachusetts, became possessed of the Brewer estate, and not knowing its true name allowed the pear to go out under his own. Henceforth it was known in America as Bartlett. The American Pomological Society added this variety to its catalog-list of fruits in 1848.

Tree medium in size, tall, pyriform, upright, hardy, very productive; branches stocky, smooth, reddish-brown overlaid with ash-gray scarf-skin, with few lenticels; branchlets short, with short internodes, reddish-brown, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with conspicuous lenticles.

Leaf-buds short, obtuse, pointed, mostly free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 2-3/4 in. long, 1-2/5 in. wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin tipped with small dark red glands, finely serrate; petiole 1-3/4 in. long. Flower-buds large, conical, pointed, free; flowers showy, 1-1/4 in. across, in dense clusters averaging 7 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1-1/8 in. long, slender, slightly pubescent.

Fruit matures in September; large, 3-3/8 in. long, 2-3/8 in. wide, oblong-obtuse-pyriform, tapering toward the apex, symmetrical, uniform; stem 1-1/8 in. long, often curved, thick; cavity small, usually lipped, with thin, overspreading streaks of light russet, acute, shallow; calyx partly open; lobes separated at the base, narrow, acute; basin very shallow, narrow, obtuse, furrowed and wrinkled; skin thin, tender, smooth, often dull, the surface somewhat uneven; color clear yellow, with a faint blush on the exposed cheek, more or less dotted with russet and often thinly russeted around the basin; dots many, small, conspicuous, greenish-russet; flesh fine-grained although slightly granular at the center, melting, buttery, very juicy, vinous, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube long, wide, funnel-shaped; seeds wide, plump, acute.

BELLE LUCRATIVE

=1.= Lindley _Guide Orch. Gard._ 364. 1831. =2.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 135. 1841. =3.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =1=:41, Pl. 1851. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 53. 1852. =5.= Field _Pear Cult._ 194, fig. 68. 1858.

_Fondante d'Automne._ =6.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 387, fig. 168. 1845. =7.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 578. 1884.

_Seigneur._ =8.= _Ann. Pom. Belge_ =7=:5, Pl. 1859. =9.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 28, Pl. 28. 1863. =10.= Mas _Le Verger_ =3=: Pt. 1, 21, fig. 9. 1866-73.

_Bergamote Lucrative._ =11.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:247, figs. 1867.

_Seigneur d'Espéren._ =12.= _Guide Prat._ 59, 303. 1876.

_Esperen's Herrenbirne._ =13.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 212. 1889. =14.= Gaucher _Pom. Prak. Obst._ No. 37, Pl. 85. 1894.

_Lucrative._ =15.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1889.

This good old pear has been a standard autumn sort for nearly a century. The internal characters of both flesh and flavor are nearly perfect, but externally much more might be desired as to shape and size. In flesh and flavor, the fruits are of the Bergamot type--fine-grained, buttery, juicy, and sugary, with a musky taste and perfume. The fruits are not as large as is desirable, and are variable in shape and color, external defects which a rather handsome color offsets in part. The trees are more satisfactory than the fruits. They bear enormously and almost annually on either standard or dwarfing stocks; they are very vigorous, with a somewhat distinct upright-spreading habit of growth; are hardier than the average variety of this fruit; and are rather more resistant to blight than the average variety. The fruits are too small for a good commercial product, but their delectable flavor and luscious flesh make them as desirable as any other pear for home use; besides which the trees grow so well, and are so easily managed that the variety becomes one of the very best for the home planter.

Belle Lucrative is of Flemish origin. In 1831 it was growing in the London Horticultural Society's gardens at Chiswick, and was then described by Lindley as "another of the new Flemish pears." It had been taken to England by a Mr. Braddick who received the cions from M. Stoffels of Mechlin. By some writers it is considered probable that it originated with M. Stoffels, but the leading Belgian and French writers say that it was raised by Major Espéren, also of Mechlin, about 1827. In this country it first fruited in the Pomological Garden of Robert Manning, Salem, Massachusetts, in 1835 or 1836. The American Pomological Society added the variety to its fruit catalog-list in 1852 under the name Belle Lucrative.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, upright-spreading, dense-topped, rapid-growing, hardy, productive; branches smooth, grayish-brown mingled with red, covered with scarf-skin, with numerous elongated lenticels; branchlets slender, short, light brown, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with few small, inconspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, appressed. Leaves 3 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, stiff; apex abruptly pointed; margin finely serrate, tipped with very small, sharp glands; petiole 2 in. long. Flower-buds conical, pointed, plump, free, singly on very short spurs; flowers with an unpleasant odor, showy, 1-1/2 in. across, average 7 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1-1/16 in. long, thick, thinly pubescent.

Fruit ripe in late September and October; medium in size, 2-3/8 in. long, 2-1/4 in. wide, obovate, conical, with sides unequal; stem 1-1/8 in. long; cavity very shallow and narrow, or lacking, the flesh drawn up about the base of the stem; calyx open, large; lobes long, narrow, acuminate; basin shallow, obtuse, smooth; skin thin, tender, smooth; color dull greenish-yellow, thickly sprinkled with small, russet dots, often overspread with russet around the basin; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, firm, fine-grained, crisp, buttery, juicy, sweet; quality very good. Core closed, abaxile; calyx-tube long, narrow, funnel-shaped; seeds narrow, plump, acute.

BEURRÉ D'ANJOU

=1.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 136. 1841. =2.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 360. 1845. =3.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =1=:61, Pl. 1851. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 53. 1852. =5.= _Flor. & Pom._ =5=:1, Pl. 1866. =6.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 679, fig. 1869. =7.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 510. 1884.

_Anjou._ =8.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1883.

_Winter Meuris._ =9.= Lucas _Tafelbirnen_ 171, fig. 1894.

_Nec plus Meuris._ =10.= Baltet _Cult. Fr._ 321, fig. 214. 1908. =11.= _Guide Prat._ 49, 282. 1895.

Beurré d'Anjou is a standard market pear for late fall and early winter, its season lasting until well into January even in common storage. As an early winter pear, it has no superior and few equals in appearance and quality of fruit. In appearance, the pear is of distinct type--large, very uniform, the sides slightly unequal, smooth of skin, yellow, marked and dotted with russet, faintly blushed, and borne on a very short, thick stem. A fruit of this variety can never be mistaken for that of another. The internal characters are scarcely less notable than the external ones. The yellowish-white flesh is firm but tender, slightly granular, very juicy, sweet, spicy, with a rich, vinous flavor. Uniformity of shape and the smooth skin are marked and constant characters. In common with all varieties, the fruits of this pear are not always up to their best, but they are never poor in quality. The trees are vigorous, hardy, fairly free from blight, grow rapidly and come in bearing early, but have the serious fault of being uncertain croppers. In Europe and America, the trees thrive on the quince, and the variety is rated by all as a splendid one for dwarfing. Of all winter pears, none is more valuable for commercial or home orchards than Beurré d'Anjou. In particular, it is recommended for New York, where, possibly, it is more at home than in any other part of America.

Beurré d'Anjou is an old French pear the origin of which is obscure, although it is supposed to have originated in the vicinity of Angers. Early in the nineteenth century it was introduced into England by Thomas Rivers, noted author and pomologist. The variety was introduced into this country by Colonel Wilder[25] of Boston about 1842, and first fruited with him in 1845. The American Pomological Society added Beurré d'Anjou to its list of fruits recommended for general cultivation in 1852.

Tree large, vigorous, spreading, hardy, an uncertain bearer; trunk smooth; branches slightly zigzag, covered with gray scarf-skin over reddish-brown, with few small lenticels; branchlets long, with long internodes, reddish-brown tinged with green, smooth, glabrous, with many conspicuous, raised lenticels.

Leaf-buds small, short, obtuse, nearly free. Leaves 3-1/2 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, elongated-oval, thin, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin nearly entire or crenate; petiole 2 in. long. Flower-buds large, long, conical, plump, free; flowers 1-3/8 in. across, showy, in dense clusters, from 8 to 12 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1/2 in. long, very thick, pubescent, green.

Fruit ripe November to early January; large, 3-1/2 in. long, 3 in. wide, uniform in size, oblong-obovate-pyriform, with surface irregular in outline, sides slightly unequal, uniform in shape; stem 1/2 in. long, short, very thick and woody; cavity obtuse, shallow, russeted and furrowed, usually lipped; calyx open; lobes separated at the base, long, narrow, acuminate; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, smooth, symmetrical and regular; skin thin, tender, smooth, dull; color yellow, clouded with russet around the basin and occasionally with very fine russet lines and markings; dots many, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, but slightly granular, tender, buttery, very juicy, sweet and spicy, with a rich, aromatic flavor; quality very good. Core large, closed; core-lines clasping; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acuminate, tufted at the tips.

BEURRÉ D'ARENBERG[26]

=1.= _Trans. Lond. Hort. Soc._ =5=:406. 1824. =2.= Lindley _Guide Orch. Gard._ 392. 1831. =3.= Prince _Pom. Man._ =1=:51. 1831. =4.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 188. 1832. =5.= _Ibid._ 156. 1841. =6.= _Gard. Chron._ 716, fig. 2. 1844. =7.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 423, fig. 195. 1845. =8.= _Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr._ 51. 1848. =9.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =1=:1, Pl. 1851. =10.= _Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt._ 93, Pl. 1852. =11.= Mas _Le Verger_ =1=:161, fig. 79. 1866-73. =12.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 510. 1884.

_Orpheline d'Enghien._ =13.= _Ann. Pom. Belge_ =3=:35, Pl. 1855. =14.= _Guide Prat._ 108, 292. 1876.

In favorable locations this pear seems to possess all of the characters which constitute a first-class fruit; but, notwithstanding, although it has been in the country nearly a century, it is now scarcely to be found in the nurseries, and orchard trees are becoming rare. The fruits are distinguished by their refreshing, vinous taste and long-keeping qualities. Very often, however, they do not ripen in eastern America, and when not properly ripened the pears are highly acidulous and so astringent as to be almost intolerable to the taste. The frequency with which these poor fruits are borne, always on heavy, cold clays and in cold climates, coupled with rather small, short-lived trees, condemn the variety for most pear regions in the East. In the far West, the crop ripens better, and the pears are splendid winter fruits. The merits of the variety are so varying in New York that it is not now worth while attempting to bring it into new life.

Beurré d'Arenberg, in the opinion of some European writers, holds first place among the pears produced by French and Belgian pomologists. Unfortunately, Beurré d'Arenberg and Glou Morceau are often mistaken the one for the other. Beurré d'Arenberg was raised by Monseigneur Deschamps, Abbé of the Orphan Hospital, Enghien, Belgium. At about the same time, M. Noisette, a nurseryman of Paris, sent out Glou Morceau, which he had procured from the gardens of the Duc d'Arenberg, under the name Beurré d'Arenberg, so that there were two distinct varieties in cultivation under the same name. The true Beurré d'Arenberg of the Abbé Deschamps came to this country about 1827, having been sent over by Thomas Andrew Knight, President of the London Horticultural Society, to the Hon. John Lowell of Boston. The American Pomological Society recommended this variety for cultivation in 1848, but in 1871 the name disappeared from the Society's catalog.

Tree medium in size and vigor, upright, very hardy and very productive; trunk and branches medium in thickness and smoothness; branchlets slender, short, light brown mingled with green, smooth, glabrous, with numerous, small, raised lenticels. Leaf-buds small, short, plump, free; leaf-scars with prominent shoulders. Leaves 3 in. long; 1-3/8 in. wide; apex taper-pointed; margin glandless, finely serrate; petiole 1-7/8 in. long. Flower-buds small, short, sharply pointed, free, singly on short spurs.

Fruit ripe December to January; large, obovate-pyriform, ribbed; stem 1 in. long, thick, fleshy at the base, obliquely inserted; cavity lacking, drawn up in an oblique lip about the stem; calyx small, closed; lobes short, sometimes lacking; basin deep, smooth; skin roughish, thick, uneven; color yellow, with patches and tracings of russet especially around the calyx end; dots numerous, cinnamon-russet; flesh white, very juicy, melting, vinous or acidulous; quality very good. Core large; seeds large, roundish, plump.

BEURRÉ BOSC

=1.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 161. 1832. =2.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 358, fig. 152. 1845. =3.= _Proc. Nat. Cong. Fr. Gr._ 29, 51. 1848. =4.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =1=:65, Pl. 1851. =5.= _Ann. Pom. Belge_ =5=:79, Pl. 1857. =6.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:320, fig. 1867. =7.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 514. 1884.

_Bosc's Butterbirne._ =8.= Dochnahl _Führ. Obstkunde_ =2=:100. 1856.

_Beurré d'Apremont._ =9.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 26, Pl. 26. 1863. =10.= Mas _Le Verger_ =3=: Pt. 2, 65, fig. 129. 1866-73. =11.= _Guide Prat._ 48, 230. 1895.

_Bosc._ =12.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1883.

_Bosc's Flaschenbirne._ =13.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =II=: No. 75, Pl. 75. 1883. =14.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 188. 1889. =15.= _Deut. Obstsorten_ =2=: Pt. 5, Pl. 1906.

The fruits of Beurré Bosc merit unqualified praise. They are nearly flawless in every character. The pears at once receive approbation from all who see them by virtue of their uniquely beautiful color and shape, in which characters they are wholly unlike any other pear. The shape is pyriform, with a very long, tapering neck, perfectly symmetrical and unequalled in trimness of contour. The color is a dark rich yellow overspread with cinnamon-russet, with here and there a spot of the yellow ground color visible. The quality is rated by all as "very good" or "best;" the Seckel alone surpasses it as a dessert fruit in the estimation of most pear fanciers. The flesh, while slightly granular, is tender and melting or almost buttery, very juicy, with a rich piquant flavor and a pleasing aroma. The fruits seldom crack, scab, or mildew. The characters of the tree fall far short of those of the fruits. Nurserymen complain that it is difficult to propagate the trees as they make a poor growth in the nursery and come to transplanting age with a root system of two or three prongs almost devoid of fibrous roots. The trees must be humored in soil and climate, and under favorable conditions make but moderate growth as young plants. Established trees in suitable soils, however, surpass most of their neighbors in size and luxuriance of foliage. Very old trees have a nobility of aspect possessed by few other pears. While slow in coming in bearing, after fruiting begins the trees bear regularly and abundantly. The variety does not succeed well on the quince unless double-worked. Unfortunately, the trees are tender to cold and somewhat too susceptible to blight. Beurré Bosc has long been a favorite in the pear regions of Europe and America, and its culture in this country may be recommended for the home, for local and general markets, and for exportation.

This pear is a native of Belgium, having been raised from seed in 1807 by Dr. Van Mons, the renowned pomologist of Louvain, and was in the first instance named by him Calebasse Bosc in honor of M. Bosc, a distinguished French naturalist. In 1820, it was received at the garden of the Horticultural Society of London under the name Beurré Bosc, and Robert Thompson, at that time Director of the gardens, thought it best to retain this name. The variety was early introduced into France. About 1832 or 1833, Robert Manning and William Kenrick received cions in the United States from Van Mons and from the London Horticultural Society. The variety was cataloged by the American Pomological Society at its first meeting in 1848.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, upright-spreading, hardy, productive, not an early bearer; trunk stocky; branches smooth, brownish, covered with ash-gray scarf-skin, with large lenticels; branchlets brownish, tinged with gray, glossy, smooth, nearly glabrous, with slightly raised, conspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds obtuse, pointed, appressed; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 3 in. long, 1-7/8 in. wide, ovate, thick, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely crenate; petiole 1-1/4 in. long. Flower-buds large, conical, pointed, free; flowers open early, 1-1/2 in. across, showy, in dense clusters, from 10 to 20 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1 in. long, slightly pubescent, light green.

Fruit ripe in late October and November; large, 3-3/8 in. long, 2-3/4 in. wide, uniform in size, acute-obovate-pyriform, with a very long, tapering neck, uniform in shape and very symmetrical; stem 1-1/2 in. long, curved; cavity very obtuse or lacking, occasionally very shallow and narrow, wrinkled, russeted, with a fleshy ring folded up around the stem, slightly lipped; calyx open, small; lobes short, broad, obtuse; basin very shallow, narrow, obtuse, smooth, symmetrical; skin slightly granular, tender, roughened by russet, dull; color dark yellow, overspread with thick, dark russet, laid on in streaks and patches, with a cheek of solid russet; dots small, light russet, obscure; flesh yellowish-white, slightly granular, tender and melting, buttery, very juicy, with a rich, delicious, aromatic flavor; quality very good to best. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds wide, short, plump, obtuse.

BEURRÉ CLAIRGEAU

=1.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =2=:73, Pl. 1851. =2.= _Ann. Pom. Belge_ =2=:103, Pl. 1854. =3.= _Gard. Chron._ 805. 1854. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 337. 1860. =5.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 11, Pl. 11. 1863. =6.= Mas _Le Verger_ =1=:39, fig. 26. 1866-73. =7.= _Jour. Hort._ N. S. =12=:211. 1867. =8.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:335, fig. 1867. =9.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 678. 1869. =10.= _Gard. Chron._ 1271. 1873. =11.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 517. 1884.

_Clairgeau's Butterbirne._ =12.= Dochnahl _Führ. Obstkunde_ =2=:127. 1856. =13.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =II=: No. 7, Pl. 7. 1882. =14.= _Deut. Obstsorten_ =3=: Pt. 9, Pl. 1907.

_Clairgeau._ =15.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1883.

Beurré Clairgeau is one of the mainstays in American pear-growing, and is an especially valuable variety in New York. It maintains its place among standard varieties chiefly because of splendid tree-characters, as the fruits, while handsome, are not of the best quality. The tree is second only to that of Buffum in vigor, health, and productiveness, and is nearly as handsome as an ornamental. It does equally well on quince or pear stock, although the Europeans maintain that the product is better on the dwarfing stock. On either stock, the trees bear young and annually. The fruits are large, smooth, symmetrical, and uniform in shape, with a handsome ground color of rich yellow at maturity and a bright crimson cheek. But here praises end, for the "deceptive cheek of the Clairgeau" is proverbial in pear-growing, the handsome coat covering rather coarse, granular flesh which is sometimes very good but more often commonplace. The core is very large, and the flesh surrounding it often rots or softens prematurely. The fruit is more suitable for cookery than dessert. The pears are heavy and often drop before maturity, and the trees should not be set in wind-swept situations. Despite these demerits of the fruits, the variety is well worth planting in commercial orchards for late markets.

The original tree of Beurré Clairgeau appears to have grown by chance about 1830 with Pierre Clairgeau, Nantes, France. M. Clairgeau's first account of it was given in 1848 when he exhibited fruit. The reputation of the variety seems to have been at once established, for J. de Jonghe and others combined and purchased the stock of about 300 trees grafted on quince. Together with the parent tree, these were the same year removed to Brussels, and in 1852 the pear was placed on the market. Thus it happened that a French pear was first distributed by Belgian growers. The variety was introduced in America about 1854. The American Pomological Society placed it upon its list of recommended fruits in 1860.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, unusually upright, dense, slow-growing, hardy, productive, a regular bearer; trunk slender, shaggy; branches smooth, slightly zigzag, ash-gray almost completely overspreading reddish-brown, with many lenticels; branchlets thick, short, with short internodes, greenish-brown, smooth, glabrous, with slightly raised lenticels.

Leaf-buds conical, pointed, appressed; leaves very numerous, 3 in. long, 2 in. wide, broadly oval, leathery; apex abruptly pointed; margin glandless, finely serrate; petiole 2 in. long, glabrous; stipules rudimentary or lacking. Flower-buds medium to long, conical, pointed; flowers 1-1/2 in. across, showy, in dense clusters, averaging 7 buds to a cluster; pedicels 5/8 in. long, thick, pubescent, greenish.

Fruit in season, late October and November; large, 3-5/8 in. long, 2-5/8 in. wide, uniform in size, roundish-acute-pyriform, with a long, tapering neck, symmetrical, uniform in shape; stem 1/2 in. long, short, very thick and fleshy; cavity obtuse, very shallow and narrow, fleshy around the base of the stem, russeted, lipped; calyx open, large; lobes separated at the base, long, broad, acute or acuminate; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, furrowed, often compressed; skin thick and granular, tough, smooth, glossy; color yellow, with bright red blush; dots many, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh white, quite granular, firm at first but becoming at maturity tender and melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet, aromatic, with a rich, vinous flavor; quality variable, good to best. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute.

BEURRÉ DIEL

=1.= _Pom. Mag._ =1=:19, Pl. 1828. =2.= _Ibid._ =3=:131, Pl. 1830. =3.= Lindley _Guide Orch. Gard._ 392. 1831. =4.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 189. 1832. =5.= _Ibid._ 156. 1841. =6.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 360, fig. 153. 1845. =7.= _Gard. Chron._ 856. 1845. =8.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =1=:77, Pl. 1851. =9.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 231. 1854. =10.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 7, Pl. 7. 1863. =11.= Mas _Le Verger_ =1=:137, fig. 67. 1866-73. =12.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:349, fig. 1867. =13.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 686, fig. 1869. =14.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 518. 1884. =15.= _Guide Prat._ 234. 1895.

_Diel's Butterbirne._ =16.= Liegel _Syst. Anleit._ 110. 1825. =17.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =11=: No. 8, Pl. 8. 1882. =18.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 203. 1889.

_Diel._ =19.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 36. 1883.

The catalogs and text-books supply Beurré Diel with several virtues which Nature denies it as the variety grows in New York. As grown in the eastern United States, the pears are dull and unattractive even at maturity when the pale lemon color is brightest. When the tree is happily situated as to soil and care, the quality of its product is excellent, its fruits being delicious and ranking among the very best, but when illy suited to soil, climate or care, the flesh is coarse, the flavor insipid and astringent, bringing the quality down to second or third rate. The pears keep and ship well. The tree is hardy, uncommonly vigorous and fruitful, but very subject to blight; it is characterized by its long twisting branches which need to be pruned back heavily. The variety is still being planted, but there are better autumn pears.

This variety came from a chance seedling found near Brussels in 1805 by M. Meuris, head gardener for Dr. Van Mons. Being unnamed and of fine quality, Van Mons dedicated it to his German friend, Diel, one of the most distinguished German pomologists. Van Mons sent cions of the variety to the London Horticultural Society in 1817. In 1823, Thomas Andrew Knight sent cions to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society whence it became disseminated generally throughout the United States. The American Pomological Society placed this variety upon its fruit catalog-list in 1854.

Tree medium in size and vigor, spreading, open-topped, slow-growing, hardy, productive; trunk slender, smooth; branches slender, twisting, reddish-brown mingled with grayish scarf-skin, with few lenticels; branchlets with short internodes, dark reddish-brown, smooth, glabrous, with few small, raised lenticels.

Leaf-buds obtuse, free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 2-3/4 in. long, 1-3/4 in. wide, oval, thick, leathery; apex abruptly pointed; margin finely serrate; petiole 1-1/2 in. long. Flower-buds large, long, conical, rather plump, free; flowers open early, nearly 1-3/8 in. across, showy, in dense clusters, 7 or 8 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1-1/8 in. long, pubescent, greenish.

Fruit ripe in November; large, 3 in. long, 2-3/8 in. wide, uniform in size, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, often irregular and usually with sides unequal; stem 1-1/4 in. long, thick, curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, very narrow, russeted, furrowed and uneven, often lipped; calyx partly open, large; lobes separated at the base, broad, acute; basin shallow, obtuse, furrowed and uneven; skin very thick and granular, somewhat roughened by russet markings and by dots; color lemon-yellow, with a faint pinkish-red blush and markings and flecks of russet; dots many, russet, very conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, becoming tender and melting, quite granular around the core, very juicy, sweet, aromatic and rich; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, often abortive, acute.

BEURRÉ GIFFARD

=1.= _Gard. Chron._ 69. 1848. =2.= _Mag. Hort._ =18=:433, fig. 30. 1852. =3.= _Ann. Pom. Belge_ =5=:69, Pl. 1857. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 231. 1858. =5.= _Pom. France_ =1=: No. 1, Pl. 1. 1863. =6.= Mas _Le Verger_ =2=:39, fig. 18. 1866-73. =7.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:369, fig. 1867. =8.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 689. 1869. =9.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 521. 1884. =10.= _Soc. Nat. Hort. France Pom._ 374, fig. 1904.

_Giffard's Butterbirne._ =11.= Oberdieck _Obst-Sort._ 255. 1881. =12.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =II=: No. 57, Pl. 57. 1883.

_Giffard._ =13.= _Gard. Chron._ 415. 1863. =14.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 38. 1883.

This is one of the few summer pears with a distinctly vinous flavor, which, with the crisp and tender flesh, makes it one of the most refreshing of summer fruits. The pears are larger than those of most other sorts of its season, somewhat like those of Beurré Clairgeau in shape and color, and ripen at a time--just before Clapp Favorite--when good pears should be in demand for home and market. The fruits keep well for summer pears, and are remarkable for their small cores. The trees, while in no way remarkable, are quite up to the average in all characters, and surpass most of their orchard associates in hardiness and fruitfulness. The variety is desirable for both home and commercial orchards.

This early summer pear was found as a chance seedling in 1825 by Nicolas Giffard, Foussières, France. In 1840, M. Millet, president of the Society of Horticulture of Maine-et-Loire, wrote the first description of it in the Bulletins of the Society. It was introduced in America about 1850, and in 1858 was added to the fruit catalog-list of the American Pomological Society.

Tree of medium size, vigorous, spreading, open-topped, hardy, productive; branches reddish-brown, nearly covered with gray scarf-skin, with long and narrow, large lenticels; branchlets slender, new growth willowy, long, reddish-brown, smooth, glabrous except near the tips of the new growth, with conspicuous, raised, round lenticels.

Leaf-buds small, short, pointed, appressed. Leaves 2-3/4 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, stiff; apex taper-pointed; margin entire, sometimes slightly pubescent; petiole 2-1/2 in. long, slender, reddish-green; stipules very long and slender. Flower-buds small, plump, free, singly on very short spurs; flowers showy, 1-1/4 in. across, in dense clusters, average 8 buds in a cluster; pedicels 3/4 in. long, pubescent.

Fruit ripe in late August; variable in size, averages 3 in. long, 2-3/8 in. wide, obovate-acute-pyriform; stem 3/4 in. long; cavity lacking, the flesh closing up symmetrically around the stem except when drawn up in a lip; calyx open, small; lobes separated at the base, narrow, accuminate; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, almost smooth, symmetrical; skin thin, tender, smooth; color dull greenish-yellow, with a dotted, dull red blush, often without blush; dots numerous, small, greenish and russet, very conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, granular at the center, melting, very juicy, vinous, highly aromatic; quality very good. Core small, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube narrow, funnel-shaped; seeds plump, acute.

BEURRÉ HARDY

=1.= Barry _Fr. Garden_ 314. 1851. =2.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 466. 1857. =3.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 66. 1862. =4.= _Pom. France_ =2=: No. 46, Pl. 46. 1864. =5.= Mas _Le Verger_ =3=: Pt. 1, 11, fig. 4. 1866-73. =6.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:379, fig. 1867. =7.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 521. 1884. =8.= _Soc. Nat. Hort. France Pom._ 378, fig. 1904.

_Hardy._ =9.= _Gard. Chron._ 463. 1863. =10.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 38. 1883.

_Gellert's Butterbirne._ =11.= Gaucher _Pom. Prak. Obst._ No. 38, Pl. 78. 1894.

Beurré Hardy is one of the good autumn pears. Both fruit and tree commend it. The fruits are usually large; are handsome in appearance; and the flesh and flavor are exceptionally fine. Thus, the flesh, while a little granular at the core, is melting, juicy, and richly aromatic,--as truly luscious as in any other pear. Unfortunately the fruits do not keep well, having a tendency to soften at the core as maturity advances. When poorly grown or not properly ripened, the pears are sometimes a little astringent, and there is always a smack of astringency. The trees, while not large, are vigorous, hardy, productive, and healthy except in being a little susceptible to blight. This is a favorite pear with nurserymen to bud or graft on the quince, Japanese pear stocks, or other stocks, since it makes a perfect union with any of those in common use. The tree is one of the best dwarfs, also, for its own crop. Wherever pears are grown, this is a good dessert sort, and in many regions it is a valuable fruit for commerce. Beurré Hardy does especially well in New York and in eastern United States.

This is a French pear raised about 1820 by M. Bonnet, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. In 1830, it was acquired by M. Jean-Laurent Jamin, a nurseryman near Paris, who named it in honor of M. Hardy, Director and Professor of Arboriculture at the Garden of the Luxembourg. It was propagated, made known, and distributed by M. Jamin between 1840 and 1845. The American Pomological Society added Beurré Hardy to its list of recommended fruits in 1862.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, upright, dense-topped, hardy, productive; trunk stocky; branches smooth, dull brown overspread with gray, marked more or less with scarf-skin, with very numerous large, elongated lenticels; branchlets thick, greenish-brown, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with numerous small, raised, conspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds conical, pointed, plump, usually free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 2-1/2 in. long, 2 in. wide, stiff; apex abruptly pointed; margin tipped with small glands, finely serrate; petiole 1-1/2 in. long. Flower-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, free, singly or in small clusters on short spurs; flowers 1-1/4 in. across, well distributed, average 9 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1 in. long, pubescent, reddish-green.

Fruit in season, late September and early October; large, 3 in. long, 2-1/4 in. wide, uniform, obtuse-pyriform, with a rather long neck, symmetrical; stem 7/8 in. long, thick, slightly curved; cavity obtuse, very shallow and narrow, russeted, often uneven and gently furrowed, lipped; calyx large, open; lobes broad, acute; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, gently furrowed; skin granular, tender, russet; color dull greenish-yellow, overspread with thin, brownish-russet, without blush; dots numerous, russet, small, very conspicuous; flesh granular, melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet, richly aromatic and somewhat vinous; quality very good to best. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute.

BEURRÉ DE JONGHE

=1.= _Mag. Hort._ =28=:258. 1857. =2.= _Gard. Chron._ 147, fig. 1866. =3.= Mas _Le Verger_ =1=:73, fig. 43. 1866-73. =4.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 683. 1869. =5.= _Jour. Hort._ N. S. =32=:408. 1877. =6.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 522. 1884. =7.= _Guide Prat._ 64, 232. 1895. =8.= _Garden_ =49=:225. 1896.

_De Jonghe's Butterbirne._ =9.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 201. 1889.

A prime requisite in any pear of best quality is that there be no disagreeable after-taste in the flesh. The fruits of almost none of the winter pears meet this requirement. Almost all have more or less astringency in the after-taste. But the fruits of this variety are wholly free from this astringency and are, moreover, so sweet and rich that they are nearly as delectable as those of Seckel, the standard of excellence in quality. The pears ripen at Geneva in January and may be kept for a month or six weeks at a season when there are few other sweet, rich pears, the fruits of nearly all other pears of this season being vinous and piquant. The trees are hardy and productive, but are slow in coming in bearing, rather small, and not at all self-assertive and must be coddled somewhat. They are reported by many to do better on quince than on pear stocks. The variety is desirable only for the amateur.

According to Mas, the French pomologist, M. de Jonghe mentioned this pear in a pamphlet on new varieties published in 1865. It was described in the _Magazine of Horticulture_ in 1857 as a new variety. In _Gardener's Chronicle_, 1866, M. de Jonghe said that he saw this pear first in 1852 at Uccle, Belgium. The seedling had been planted there two years before.

Tree medium in size and vigor, spreading, slow-growing, hardy, very productive; trunk slender, shaggy; branches reddish-brown overspread with thick scarf-skin; branchlets thick, curved, short, with very short internodes, smooth except for the raised, conspicuous lenticels. Leaf-buds small, short; leaf-scars with prominent shoulders. Leaves 2-3/4 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, thick; apex abruptly pointed; margin glandular, finely serrate; petiole 1-1/2 in. long, reddish-green. Flower-buds large, long, very plump, free; flowers 1-1/4 in. across, 7 or 8 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1/2 in. long, thick.

Fruit ripe December to January; medium in size, 3 in. long, 2-1/4 in. wide, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, very regular; stem short, thick, inserted obliquely; cavity very shallow or none, the flesh often drawn up in a lip on one side of the stem; calyx small, open; basin shallow; skin thin; color dull yellow, thickly overspread with a pale, brownish-russet, often with traces of a russet-red blush; dots numerous, small, dull russet; flesh nearly white, fine-grained, melting, buttery, pleasant flavored, aromatic, sweet; quality very good.

BEURRÉ SUPERFIN

=1.= _Mag. Hort._ =20=:8, 135. 1854. =2.= _Horticulturist_ N. S. =5=: 88. 1855. =3.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 465. 1857. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 231. 1858. =5.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:432, fig. 1867. =6.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 529. 1884.

_Hochfeine Butterbirne._ =7.= Lauche _Deut. Pom._ =II=: No. 59, Pl. 59. 1883. =8.= Gaucher _Pom. Prak. Obst._ No. 47, Pl. 60. 1894.

_Superfin._ =9.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 40. 1883.

Tender in skin and delicate in flesh, the product of this variety is not for the markets, but that of few other sorts so admirably supplies those who want choicely good fruits. The pears are not as attractive in appearance as might be wished, but are hardly surpassed in flavor in their season. The flesh is notable for juiciness, rich vinous flavor, and pleasant perfume. The trees are large, healthy even as regards blight, very productive, and are easily suited as to soils. The trees do not bear early, but are regular in bearing after this life event begins. In Europe, the variety is commonly and successfully grown as a dwarf, and the pear-growers of a generation ago in America recommend this variety as one of the good sorts to work on the quince. The variety is a valuable one for home orchards, especially in New York where it grows exceptionally well.

Beurré Superfin was raised from a bed of pear seeds made at Angers, France, by M. Goubault, a well-known pomologist, in 1837. The parent tree so produced bore fruit in 1844 and the Committee of the Horticultural Society of Maine-et-Loire was requested to report on its merits, which it did in that year, and M. Millet, president of the society, named it Beurré Superfin. It was introduced in America about 1850. The variety was placed on the fruit catalog-list of the American Pomological Society in 1858.

Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, dense-topped, hardy, very productive; trunk stocky, rough; branches thick, rough and shaggy, zigzag, dull brownish-red, overspread with gray scarf-skin, sprinkled with numerous elongated lenticels; branchlets slender, light brown, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with small, raised, inconspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, appressed or free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 3-1/4 in. long, 1-7/8 in. wide, stiff; apex abruptly pointed; margin tipped with small glands, coarsely serrate; petiole 1-3/4 in. long. Flower-buds conical, pointed, plump, free, singly on short branches and short spurs.

Fruit matures in October; large, 3-1/4 in. long, 2-3/4 in. wide, roundish-oblate, with a short, thick, rounded neck, symmetrical; stem 1-1/8 in. long, very thick, curved; cavity very shallow and narrow or lacking, the flesh tapering into the stem or wrinkled in a fleshy fold about the base of the stem, often lipped; calyx open; lobes separated at the base, broad, narrow; basin narrow, obtuse, gently furrowed, symmetrical; skin very granular, tender, smooth; color yellow, netted and streaked with light russet, often with a slight brownish-russet cheek; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, granular, melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet yet with a rich, brisk, vinous flavor, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute.

BLOODGOOD

=1.= _Mag. Hort._ =3=:14. 1837. =2.= Manning _Book of Fruits_ 65. 1838. =3.= _Mag. Hort._ =9=:366, fig. 31. 1843. =4.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 332, fig. 132. 1845. =5.= _Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr._ 51. 1848. =6.= Mas _Le Verger_ =2=:181, fig. 89. 1866-73. =7.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:449, fig. 1867. =8.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 532. 1884.

_Bloodgood's Sommerbirne._ =9.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 186. 1889.

Bloodgood has long been a standard summer pear in America. It surpasses any European associate of its season in both fruit- and tree-characters. In particular, the fruits are meritorious for flesh of fine texture, which, though a little granular, is melting and juicy, and has a rich, sweet, perfumed flavor. Complaints appear in the horticultural press that the quality is exceedingly variable. The reports of poor flavor may arise from the fact that the quality is always poor if the fruit is not picked as soon as full grown and ripened indoors. The season in New York is August. The trees are resistant to blight, healthy, bear young and regularly, are long-lived, and attain large size, although in some situations they are but medium in size. The variety has little or no value in commercial plantations, but is prized in every collection for home use.

The origin of this pear is unknown, but it is supposed to be a native of New York. It seems to have been brought to notice about 1835 by James Bloodgood of the nursery firm of Bloodgood and Company, Flushing, Long Island. According to Robert Manning, the variety was listed in Prince's _Catalogue_ for 1837 as Early Beurré. After being introduced by Bloodgood and Company, it was speedily recognized as one of the most valuable native sorts. The variety was placed upon the fruit catalog-list of the American Pomological Society in 1848.

Tree medium in size and vigor, upright, dense, slow-growing, productive; trunk medium in thickness and smoothness; branches zigzag, reddish-brown partly overspread with grayish scarf-skin, marked with few small lenticels; branchlets thick, very long, with long internodes, reddish-brown, the new growth greenish, with a brown tinge, glossy, smooth, with small, raised, conspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds broad at the base, small, short, sharply pointed, free; leaf-scars with prominent shoulders. Leaves 2-1/4 in. long, 1-3/8 in. wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate; petiole 1-1/4 in. long, slender, tinged red; stipules few, variable in size and shape, tinged red. Flower-buds medium in size and length, conical, plump, free, arranged singly on short spurs; flowers early, 1-1/4 in. across, in dense clusters, 7 or 8 buds in a cluster; pedicels often 7/8 in. long, pubescent.

Fruit matures in late August; medium in size, 2-1/8 in. long, 2 in. wide, roundish-pyriform to acute-pyriform, symmetrical, uniform, with equal sides; stem 3/4 in. long, thick; cavity russeted, lipped, drawn up in fleshy folds about the stem; calyx open, small; lobes separated at the base, short, broad, obtuse; basin narrow, obtuse, smooth, symmetrical; skin thick, tough, roughish; color bright yellow, with patches and nettings of russet, producing a mottled russet effect; dots many, small, russet, inconspicuous; flesh tinged yellow, granular, melting, buttery, rich, very juicy, sweet, highly flavored, aromatic; quality very good. Core small, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, narrow, conical; seeds small, short, plump, acute.

BRANDYWINE

=1.= _Horticulturist_ =3=:166, figs. 25 and 26. 1848-49. =2.= _Mag. Hort._ =15=:106. 1849. =3.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =2=:51, Pl. 1851. =4.= _Mag. Hort._ =19=:450, fig. 30, 1853. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 231. 1858. =6.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:496, fig. 1867. =7.= _Pom. France_ =4=: No. 160, Pl. 160. 1867.

Were it not that Tyson is better in both tree and fruit, Brandywine, which ripens its crop with that of Tyson, could be put down as about the best pear of its season. Tyson is the better variety, however, in almost every soil and situation, and Brandywine has a place in American pear flora only because the pears have a distinct flavor which gives them the charm of individuality. The flesh is neither sweet nor perfumed, as is that of most pears at this season, but has the piquant smack of some of the winter pears which makes the fruits particularly refreshing. The tree is vigorous, with a handsome pyramidal top, but is not remarkable otherwise. Sometimes it is unproductive. The variety is worth planting for the sake of diversity in home orchards.

The original tree, a chance seedling, was found on the farm of Eli Harvey, Chaddsford, on the banks of the Brandywine River, Pennsylvania. This parent tree began to bear about 1820, but in 1835 wind broke it down near the surface of the ground. The present tree is a sucker from the original, and first fruited in 1844. This fact accounts for its not sooner having become known to cultivation. Dr. Brincklé of Philadelphia showed the fruits first at a meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1848 when it received high commendations. In 1858 the American Pomological Society added Brandywine to its list of recommended fruits.

Tree large, vigorous, very upright, dense-topped, productive; branches long, olive-gray, sprinkled with roundish lenticels; branchlets slender, curved, with short internodes, brownish-red overspread with scarf-skin, glabrous, with few small, obscure lenticels.

Leaf-buds medium in size and length, pointed, free. Leaves small, long-ovate; apex taper-pointed; margin serrate; petiole 1-1/2 in. long. Flower-buds large, plump, conical, free, singly on spurs and as terminal buds; flowers 7/8 in. across, in dense clusters, average 9 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1/2 in. long, slender, pubescent.

Fruit ripens in late August and early September; medium in size, 2-3/4 in. long, 2-1/2 in. wide, variable in shape but generally obovate-pyriform; stem 1-1/2 in. long, fleshy, curved, obliquely attached; cavity lacking, the flesh drawn up in a wrinkled fold about the base of the stem; calyx large, open; lobes short, entire; basin small, shallow, usually smooth; skin roughish; color greenish-yellow, blushed with red on the sunny side, marked with tracings of russet especially near the cavity; dots numerous, large, conspicuous, russet; flesh whitish, or faintly tinged with yellow, granular, melting, juicy, aromatic, vinous; quality good to very good. Core small; seeds few, small, dark brown.

BUFFUM

=1.= Kenrick _Am. Orch._ 166. 1832. =2.= _Mag. Hort._ =10=:300, fig. 15. 1844. =3.= _Ibid._ =16=:297. 1850. =4.= Hovey _Fr. Am._ =2=:19, Pl. 1851. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 53. 1852. =6.= _Horticulturist_ N. S. =6=:300, Pl. 1856. =7.= _Ibid._ =25=:104, fig. 1870. =8.= Mas _Le Verger_ =3=: Pt. 1, 81, fig. 39. 1866-73.

_Buffam._ =9.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 356, fig. 150. 1845.