Bartlett Pear, Of The Americans

William"S Bonchretien, of the English. (Fig. 118.) "This truly admirable variety is of British origin, first brought into notice by one Williams, whose name it bears. Many years ago, (1799, according to Downing,) it was imported into Massachusetts by Mr. Enoch Bartlett, from whose grounds, near Boston, it was widely disseminated; hence the name by which it is known among us. The habit of the tree is thrifty and erect, the shoots strong and vigorous. The fruit is large, quite irregular in outline, and varying considerably in different specimens. Skin smooth, yellow, with a slight blush on those which have ripened in the sun, on others entirely destitute of red. Stalk about an inch in length, one shoulder more prominent than the | other; calyx placed in a slightly formed cavity. The flesh is white, and combines with a delightful aroma, all the good qualities of the old well-known Beurre or Butter Pear.

Fig. 118. - (P. 436).

"Ripe middle of August to close of September." - Rural Reg.

Bezi De I.a. Motte

(Fig. 119.) "This is a pretty widely known French Pear, and is well worthy of perpetuity, even though not decidedly in the first class. Its habit is robust, yields fruit freely, which keeps well; the flavour is aromatic, texture buttery. Its outline is roundish - flattened; the stem under an inch in length. Calyx variously placed, in some specimens the basin is shallow and the curvature regular, in others quite irregular. Skin, green, in well-ripened specimens yellowish, and spotted with brown dots. Ripe in October. - Rural Reg.

Fig. 119. - (P. 437).

Washington

(Fig. 120.) "We have elsewhere expressed our regret that foreign fruits of doubtful worth, should have been cherished and disseminated, to the neglect of unquestionably fine varieties of native origin. The Washington Pear is a seedling, discovered in a hedge-row on the estate of the late Col. Robinson, near Naaman's Creek, Delaware, some forty-eight or fifty years ago. We are informed by our friend Dr. Thompson of Wilmington, that the tree still stands vigorous and healthy, producing from fourteen to sixteen bushels of fruit annually. Doct. T. says,'so far as my recollection of it goes, it has never suffered from disease or been attacked by blight, and I have never known the fruit of the original tree, or one of its descendants by budding or grafting to crack, as does the fruit of the old Beurre or Butter.' Doct. T. adds, 'Delaware has some state pride in this pear, quite as much as Pennsylvania has in her fine Seckel, than both of which I have yet to see their superiors among the autumn pears.' In the opinion of some competent judges he might have gone a little further and said, their equals; and yet from some unaccountable cause, the Washington is comparatively unknown.

Coxe does not even name it in his 'view of the cultivation of fruits' published in 1817, and Kenrick from the notice of it in his ' Orchardist' had evidently never seen it. Downing has several typographical errors in his description; that portion destined to be history, should be amended in his next edition.

Fig. 120 - (P. 437).

"The outline is not unlike that of the old Butter, Virgalieu or St. Michael, as it is indifferently called, but rather narrower, and in several particulars very closely resembles that famous pear; alas! now in its decadence. It is of medium size, uniformly oval. Skin smooth, yellow, and not unfrequently with a ruddy cheek. Stalk an inch or more in length, usually placed on a full crown. Eye, quite small, seated in a slight indentation; texture that of the Beurre, and exquisitely delicious. Ripe in August (or two or three weeks before the Butter), and continues in season until September." - Rural Reg. Compte De Lamy - (Fig. 121) - Is a Flemish Seedling of late introduction, and thus far promises to be entitled to our regard; much more so than a majority of recent importations. There appears to be an unusual diversity in the form or outline of this fruit. Some specimens are roundish, with the stem inserted obliquely; in others, as in the drawing, on an elevated, irregularly tapering crown. We have seen them so diverse in appearance, as to be scarcely recognized as the same variety. Skin yellow, marked on the sunny side by brownish or russet specks. Stalk an inch or more in length, in some nearly straight, in others curved. Eye of medium size, very slightly indented.

Flesh white, buttery, sweet and aromatic. In season September and October.

Fig. 121. - (P. 439).