latter was synonymous with it; but a single glance at the wood and leaves, allowing the fruit to be similar, at once decides their distinctness. Swan's Orange has a pale, yellowish

Fig. 37. Ronville Pear.

wood, while that of the Ronville is a deep olive green; in habit of growth they are very dissimilar.

Though the Ronville is a very good pear, and a profitable variety for the market, our account of it is now given in order to prevent any doubts of its entire distinctness from Swan's Orange; for the latter is too valuable a fruit to be so soon involved in the confusion which attaches to a large number of our best pears. The merits of the Ronville have, we think, been overlooked; yet it cannot be compared with Swan's Orange, which ripens at the same period.

Size, large, about four inches long and three and a half inches in diameter: Form, oblong, slightly flattened, largest in the middle, narrowing a little to the eye, and tapering to the stem, where it ends obtusely: Skin, fair, smooth, pale green, becoming yellowish when mature, somewhat russeted around the crown and stem, and regularly covered with brownish russet specks, thickest on the sunny side: Stem, medium length, about an inch long, rather slender, smooth, little swollen at the base, and obliquely inserted in a shallow cavity, formed by a few uneven projections of the fruit: Eye, medium size, closed, and sunk in a narrow, uneven basin; segments of the calyx, long and pointed: Flesh, white, coarse, tender and juicy, little gritty at the core: Flavor, sweet and pleasant, with a slight musky perfume: Core, large: Seeds, medium size, long, pointed, light brown. Ripe in October and No

vember.

117. VALLEE' FRANCHE. Hort. Soc. Catalogue, 3d Ed., 1842.

De Vallee,

Bonne de Kienzheim, Hort. Soc. Cat., 3d Ed., 1842.

De Kienzheim,

As late as 1842, the Valleé Franche (fig. 38) was classed among the first rate pears in the Catalogue of the Hort. Soc.; but, among the many recent accessions to American collections, it cannot be estimated above a second-rate fruit. It comes at a season when we have a good supply of large, handsome, and excellent pears, and as it does not keep long, its place can be supplied with better kinds. It is, however, a most abundant bearer, and in large collections it may have a place. It is one of the sorts which grow freely upon the quince, so much so that we have made use of it as a medium for double-worked trees.

Size, medium, about two and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, obovate, broadest in the middle, and tapering to each end: Skin, fair, smooth, pale green, becoming yellowish when mature, russeted at the base of the stem, and regularly, but not thickly, covered with russet specks: Stem, long, about one and a half inches in length, moderately stout, slightly fleshy at the base, curved, and obliquely inserted in a very shallow cavity: Eye, large,

partially closed, and little sunk in a furrowed basin; segments of the calyx long, narrow, pointed: Flesh, yellowish, coarse, tender and juicy: Flavor, sweet, pleasantly perfumed,

Fig. 38. Valleé Franche Pear.

and good: Core, large: Seeds, medium size. Ripe in August and September.

Like most pears of this season, they should be gathered and ripened in the fruit-room.

PASSE COLMAR. Pom. Mag., vol. II, pl. 64.

118.

Few pears can claim so high a character as the Passe Colmar, (fig. 39.) When well grown and properly ripened, we have thought that no pear of its season, or, we might perhaps say, of any season, could surpass it. It possesses a flesh of honied richness, combined with an agreeable aroma, and at its season of maturing, in January, is one of the best of pears.

The multitude of synonymes above quoted, is the best evidence of its superiority. Grown under favorable circumstances of soil and locality, it has received a new name, as it has passed out of the hands of various cultivators, until the synonymes have become more numerous than those of any other pear, except the Doyenné Blanc. Some English nurserymen still insist that there are two distinct sorts, which they call the Passe Colmar and Passe Colmar Doré; but, having fruited them both in our collection, we are inclined to believe they are alike, and have, accordingly, placed the latter among the other synonymes. It was raised by M. Hardenpont, of Belgium. The Passe Colmar is a most abundant bearer, and the fruit is often small, on account of its not being early and judiciously thinned; and when this is neglected, the pears do not attain their full size, and, in ripening, shrivel and become nearly worthless. From this circum

stance, some cultivators have discarded it from their collections. Like all free bearing pears, it should have a rich and generous soil. The trees are very vigorous growers, and fre

quently flower and produce a second crop. On the quince it succeeds admirably, uniting well with that stock, and forming a handsome pyramidal tree. Wood, clear, yellowish brown; leaves, ovate, erect.

Size, large, about three and a half inches long and three in diameter: Form, obtuse, pyramidal, full at the crown, contracted in the middle, and obtuse at the stem: Skin, fair, yellowish green, becoming pale yellow when mature, somewhat traced with russet around the eye, broadly tinged with red on the sunny side, and dotted with scattered green and russet specks: Stem, medium length, about one inch long,