THE BROWN BEURRÉ PEAR.

The Brown or Grey Butter Pear, the Green, and the Red, (or Amboise, or Isambert,) are mentioned by DE LA QUINTYNIE as one and the same fruit; the variations of its colour arising only from difference of soil, aspect, &c.: and DU HAMEL*, speaking of the Beurré, gives his opinion in direct confirmation of this account. The last-mentioned author states, that when the trees are young and vigorous, and grafted on a free stock, the fruit is usually grey; when grafted on a Quince, and possessing moderate vigour, it is green ; and those which are languid, and planted in a very dry soil and warm exposure, produce fruit of a red colour. Sometimes, he adds, the same tree bears fruit of all these three colours, when the branches possess different degrees of vigour.

It is therefore probable, that the names above mentioned were appropriated to the variety of fruit here delineated, which is known in almost every fruit garden, under the name of the Brown Beurré, though it has sometimes been called, by modern nurserymen and gardeners, the Golden. It is, nevertheless, certain that the Golden Beurré of the Hortus Kewensis, (by some called the Scarlet,) is a perfectly distinct variety; as is also the Grey Beurré of the London market.

The trees of this variety are vigorous and fertile. Leaves large, slightly serrated; petioles very long. Fruit large, of an irregular, long, oval form, frequently measuring 34 to 4 inches in length, and 21⁄2 in breadth, tapered to a point at the end next the stalk; the eye sunk in a deep cavity. Footstalk usually an inch long, or more; very thick and fleshy at the end next the fruit. The skin is of a fine russet brown, heightened with yellowish and dull red on the side next the sun; a little tinged with green on the shade side. Flesh very delicate, buttery, and melting, without grit or stone through the whole fruit; sweet, a little perfumed, and relieved by a slight, agreeable acid. It is not at all liable to become mealy. Ripens well, on a west wall, in September, or early in October, and may be preserved at least a month. It is justly considered one of the best Autumn Pears.