until last year. It is comparatively quite a new fruit. The Committee who tasted the fruit considered it "well worthy of cultivation." Mr. Foster kindly offered to send scions for distribution in the spring of 1832. Soon after this, Mr. Manning introduced it into his Pomological Garden at Salem, fruited the tree, and disseminated the variety; but, like many other new fruits originated or brought to notice at that time, when there were but few zealous cultivators who appreciated the importance of giving new fruits a trial, it did not attract much attention. Even in Mr. Manning's garden, among the numerous varieties which he was then receiving from Van Mons and other sources, its merits were overlooked. In Rhode Island, its cultivation has been very limited, having been confined to the immediate locality of its origin, and, up to the fall of 1846, it appears to have been very little known, although Mr. Manning's son has occasionally exhibited it, but without knowing much of its history or qualities. Since last year, however, when some good specimens were shown by Col. Wilder, who received the scions of the late Mr. Manning, its excellence has been justly appreciated, and another trial of it the present season has given it a rank among the best pears. In general appearance, it greatly resembles the Belle Lucrative, and some specimens that we have eaten have been nearly or quite as good. The tree is vigorous, hardy and productive wood yellowish, smooth, and very free from specks. Size, large, about three inches long, and two and three quarters in diameter: Form, obovate, regular, rather full at the crown, and tapering to the stem: Skin, fair, smooth, green, becoming yellowish green when mature, and thickly covered with dark green specks: Stem, medium length, about one inch long, moderately stout, curved, and obliquely inserted with scarcely any cavity: Eye, medium size, open, and but little sunk in a broad shallow basin; segments of the calyx broad and partially reflexed: Flesh, white, rather coarse, melting and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary and excellent, with a pleasant aroma: Core, small: Seeds, medium size, dark. Ripe in September. 80. JOHONNOT. Book of Fruits, 1st Ed. p. 74, No. 27. Franklin, (so named by the Mass. Hort. Soc. in 1831.) The Johonnot pear, (fig. 40,) does not appear to be properly appreciated. It is one of the four varieties which the late Hon. John Lowell stated were the only good native sorts which we possessed in 1828; yet it is by no means common in collections, and rarely to be found in the market: this, how Fig. 40. Johonnot. ever, cannot be on account of its excellence, for it is a peculiarly rich and spirited pear, and highly esteemed by pomologists. It has the name of being a rather shy grower, which has induced cultivators to neglect it, substituting other and inferior sorts, even before they have given this a fair trial. Around Salem, it is grown to a fine size, and we apprehend that, in a good rich soil, it will prove a productive and profitable pear. The Johonnot was raised by the late George S. Johonnot, Esq., of Salem, and first came into bearing, we believe, about the year 1823 or '24. A drawing of the fruit was sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and, at the request of Mr. Johonnot, it was named the Franklin pear; but, for some reason, it does not seem to have been gen rally adopted. Through Mr. Manning, it was introduced to cultivation. The tree, under ordinary cultivation, is a rather slow grower, and the productiveness of the variety renders it yet more tardy in attaining a good head: but, like the Andrews, and some other sorts, it should not be allowed to bear too much before the tree attains a fair size. Young trees in our collection appear as vigorous as a majority of kinds. It seems to prefer a good deep rich soil. The wood is of a dark reddish brown, and the leaves are peculiarly glossy and handsome. Growth upright when young, becoming spreading in older trees. Size, medium, about two and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, roundish obovate, irregular, swollen on one side, and tapering roundly to the stem: Skin, slightly rough, pale greenish yellow, partially covered with. dull russet, and little browned on the sunny side: Stem, medium length, about one inch long, stout, uneven, russety brown, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a swollen, fleshy base, without any cavity: Eye, large, open, and moderately sunk in a rather large, round, open basin; segments of the calyx rather long, and recurved: Flesh, white, coarse, melting and very juicy: Flavor, rich, brisk, and excellent, with a delicious musky aroma: Core, large, and slightly gritty: Seeds, small, broad, flat, and dark brown. Ripe in September. WINSHIP'S SEEDLING. Mag. of Hort. Vol. X. p. 212. For six or eight years, the Messrs. Winships have occasionally exhibited a seedling pear, but, for some reason, it has not attracted much attention until the past season. Four years since, it first came under our eye, and the specimens we tasted were so good that we made a drawing and description of the variety but, upon making inquiry of some cultivators in regard to its excellence, we found but few who knew it, and those who did thought we had overrated it. We therefore deferred giving a full description until another trial, and briefly noticed it as above referred to. This variety, (fig. 41,) originated in the nursery of the Messrs. Winships of Brighton, about fifteen years ago. Neither Kenrick, Manning, or Downing, even mention it, and it Fig. 41. Winship's Seedling. seems to have been almost entirely confined to Messrs. Winships' grounds, where it has fruited abundantly every year, coming in at a season when there are few pears to be had. The present year, the fruit was all gone when Dearborn's Seedling was ripe, and its season is between the Citron des Carmes, (or Madeline,) and the former variety, when there are no pears, if we except the Jargonelle, of equal merit. The tree is of vigorous growth, with yellowish wood, and produces abundantly: the fruit is handsome, somewhat resembling a small specimen of Williams's Bon Chrétien. It comes into bearing the third or fourth year. Size, medium, about two and three quarters of an inch long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, pyramidal, full at the crown, slightly contracted below the middle, and tapering to the stem: Skin, fair, smooth, pale lemon yellow when mature, with a few traces of russet, and a tinge of blush on the sunny side: Stem, long, about one and a half inches, rather slender, curved, greenish brown, with dark spots, slightly fleshy at the base, and inserted without any cavity: Eye, medium size, closed, and moderately sunk in a round basin; segments of the calyx medium length: Flesh, white, fine, melting and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary, pleasantly perfumed and excellent: Core, large: Seeds, large, broad, pale brown. Ripe in August. 82. HENRIETTA. Mag. of Hort. Vol. XI. p. 252. Fig. 42. Henrietta. We have already described three of Gov. Edwards's seedlings, viz., the Elizabeth, Dallas, and Calhoun, and we now |
