A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

PEA 432 PEA
Fig. 110.
Haddington. (Smith's.) (Fig. 110.)
We have by the merest chance this excellent
addition to our stock of winter
pears. Mr. J. B. Smith, when on his
farm near Haddington, Philadelphia
County, in 1828, reared from the seed
of the pound pear, a number of young
plants for stocks. This one accidentally
remained unworked, and on Mr.
Smith's removal to the city, was brought
by him and planted in his garden, where
it now stands, singularly erect, and with
few horizontal branches. It comes into
use in December, and keeps through
winter; the skin is green, when ripe
slightly yellow on the sunny side, and
marked by minute russet dots or specks.
The texture of the fruit varies ; some
are quite melting, others incline to
break— it never cracks, bears abundantly,
and we conceive it quite an acquisition
to our winter pears.
Pennsylvania. (Smithes.) (Fig. 111.
This, so named by the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society, is a seedling on the
grounds of Mr. J. B. Smith, Philadelphia.
The original tree is 35 to 40 feet
high, pyramidal in form, of robust habit,
retaining its foliage unusually late. Its
origin and age are unknov/n, but this
and the Moyaniensing (subsequently
described) standing in the same garden,
have recently been recognized
by an aged lady, who knew these iden-
tical trees when a child. The fruit in
outline and general appearance somewhat
resembles the old Beurre — prevailing
colour, brownish yellow, occasionally
speckled and burnished with
brighter yellow on the upper portion,
the lower or blossom end presenting
a uniform dull brown or russet hue, the
sunny side dotted with red. Stem deep
brown an inch and a quarter long,