Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/326

304] fruit-trees: with which those monastic gardeners, by their extensive nurseries, exercised (till the period of the late Revolution) a most lucrative traffic, and realized several millions of livres annually; but these noble plantations are now in a desolated state.—One of the most beneficial plants thus obtained, was the Blessed Pear, a yellow fruit, reddish on the south side, with a straight, rather long stalk: in hot summers, it has an agreeable juicy taste, and ripens toward the end of September. Beside their use at the dessert, these pears may be prepared in a variety of forms, for culinary dishes.—The tree, when full grown, does not exceed the middling size.

4. The Seven-sleeper (Sieben-schlafer, of the Germans); an autumnal, moderately large, oblong apple; of a golden tint; broad toward the stalk, and somewhat tapering in the direction of the bloom. Its yellowish pulp has a very agreeable, sub-acid taste, and serves every purpose of domestic consumption.—The tree is peculiarly valuable, from this circumstance, that its blossoms appear nearly a month later than those of its neighbours: and, though it be thus exempt from the injury often occasioned by severe night-frosts in the spring, yet its fruit generally ripens about the middle of August. Hence, it merits great attention in cold situations, which are exposed to vernal blights.

5. The Pound-Pear is an extraordinary large, thick, oblong fruit, of a greenish-grey colour: it is often reared in the vicinity of buildings, to shelter its ponderous fruit from boisterous winds, before it has attained to maturity. Though its pulp be somewhat tough, it is a very useful pear in domestic economy, especially for drying.—The tree rises to a considerable height and spreads its branches; is very productive; and its blossoms are not liable to be injured in the spring. There is a variety generally called the Small Pound-Pear, which acquires only half the size of the former, but possesses all its valuable properties.

6. The Green Rennet, belongs to the smaller sort of pears; has an uncommonly rough peel, of a grey colour, with a light green shade: its yellowish pulp is firm; streaked with green veins; juicy; and possesses an agreeable rennet-flavour. When laid on the floor, it ripens in January; and may, in a dry cellar, be preserved for a whole year, without becoming insipid. It is a well-tasted fruit, both for the dessert and culinary preparations.—The tree is only of a moderate size, but ably withstands the severity of the winter.

7. The Sweet Winter-Calville, is a large apple, externally resembling the fruit of the Calville family, with five broad and shallow ribs, but a confined pericarpium, or seed-capsule; it is more oblong than globular; beautifully red, beneath which appears a fine golden tint on the shaded side, and marked in every direction with white spots. Its flesh is faintly yellowish, tolerably firm and good; but, though it have no peculiar aromatic flavour, the fruit serves various economical purposes. In boiling, its slices remain entire, unless reduced to pulp by stirring them; and this pear is peculiarly esteemed for its soundness, which it retains till the second year after gathering.—The tree is of a large and durable kind.

8. The Leopold-Cherry; a dark-red and excellent fruit, of a very agreeable