THE PARADISE D'AUTOMNE PEAR.

Paradise d'Automne. Kenrick's American Orchardist, 3d Ed.

Among the more recently introduced pears, the Paradise d'Automne holds a conspicuous place. The first account we find of it is in the American Orchardist, 3d Ed. 1841, where Mr. Kenrick describes it as a new pear, received in England from France. Subsequently, it was enumerated and described in the Catalogue of the London Horticultural Society, 3d Ed. 1842, with the remark, by Mr. Thompson, that it was "very like the Beurré Bosc," and its general resemblance to that fine pear has induced some authors to consider the two synonymous. It is, however, quite distinct, and may readily be distinguished by the more irregular and uneven outline of the fruit, as well as by its more melting and buttery flesh. In the wood and foliage, the two are very dissimilar; the Paradise d'Automne having small leaves, and a reddish wood so thickly and distinctly dotted with large whitish grey specks, as to distinguish it at once. In quality, it is fully equal, if not superior, to the Bosc.

The Paradise d'Automne was introduced by Mr. Kenrick, who gave scions to the late R. Manning, in whose Pomological Garden, at Salem, it first fruited in this country in the autumn of 1844, when the tree produced about a dozen pears: it has continued to bear every year since, and our drawing, which is a most correct representation of the fruit, was made from some beautiful specimens sent us by Mr. Manning last autumn: our outline engraving is from a specimen from the same tree in 1846.

The Paradise d'Automne is a much more vigorous growing tree than the Beurre Bosc, making long and moderately stout shoots, upright at first, but afterwards becoming straggling and irregular. Our vignette represents a young pyramidal tree, three years from the bud. Whether it will succeed upon the quince, has not yet been fully ascertained: we are under the impression it will not prove long-lived on that stock, as we have trees, two years grafted, which present a rather feeble appearance. On the pear, it comes soon into bearing, about the fourth year.

Tree.—Vigorous, upright when young, with the annual shoots often curved; but, as the tree becomes older, assuming a straggling and somewhat pendulous habit.

Wood.—Reddish brown, thickly dotted with very large, oblong, whitish grey specks, and short-jointed; buds roundish, shortly pointed, diverging, with very stout, prominent shoulders: Flower-buds medium size.

Leaves.—Small, ovate, rather thick, dark green, tapering towards each end, slightly wavy, and nearly entire on the edge; petioles short, about three quarters of an inch in length, and moderately stout.

Flowers.—Medium size; petals oval, cupped, and entire on the edge, with a rather short claw.

Fruit.—Large, about three and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, pyramidal, slightly irregular and uneven on the surface, large and full in the middle, little contracted as it tapers to the stem where it ends obtusely: Skin, slightly rough, dull yellow, profusely covered with bright russet, thickest on the sunny side where it has a ruddy tinge: Stem, long, about one and a half inches, moderately slender, uneven, curved, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy and oftentimes wrinkled base: Eye, rather large, open, and moderately depressed in a much-furrowed basin; segments of the calyx long, reflexed: Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, melting, buttery and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary, sprightly, perfumed and delicious: Core, small: Seeds, medium size, long and pointed.

Ripe in September, and will keep two or three weeks.

— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)

Paradise D'Automne.

Calebasse Bosc.

Foreign. This is esteemed by many pomologists as superior even to the Beurre Bosc, which it much resembles. Tree, of very vigorous growth, shoots at first upright, afterwards straggling and pendulous; wood, reddish brown, with large whitish gray specks, very productive. Fruit, large, obovate acute pyriform, irregular and uneven surface; color, dull yellow, covered with bright russet, deepening on the sunny side; calyx, rather large, open; segments, reflexed; basin, furrowed; stem, about one and a half inch long, rather slender, obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy, and often times wrinkled base; core, small; seeds, long, pointed; flesh, yellowish white, rather coarse, buttery, melting, juicy, delicious. September and October.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Paradise d'Automne.

Calebasse Bosc. Maria Nouvelle. Princesse Marianne. Faux Spreciew. False Spreciew. Marianne. Calebasse. Calebasse Princesse Marianne.

A Belgian Pear, of uncertain origin. Tree very vigorous. Shoots long and twisting, dull reddish brown, thickly sprinkled with very conspicuous dots.

Fruit large, oblong obovate acute pyriform, yellow, mottled, and often entirely overspread with bright cinnamon russet. Surface uneven. Stalk long, enlarged at both ends, and inserted without much cavity, often by fleshy wrinkles or folds. Calyx open. Basin abrupt, and surrounded by prominences. Flesh moderately fine, sometimes slightly granular, juicy, melting, with a very rich vinous, aromatic flavor. Very good. September, October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Autumn Paradise.* (Paradise d'Automne.) Rather large, distinct pyriform; surface uneven, yellowish-orange, with some thin russet patches; stalk an inch and a half long, not sunk; basin small, irregular; flesh melting, very buttery, with a rich, high, and excellent flavor. Ripens about mid-autumn. Shoots yellowish, at first upright, afterward becoming straggling, growth vigorous. This pear resembles the Bosc, but is less smooth, more irregular in form, has a less narrow neck, and more vigorous growth. Shoots yellowish-brown, speckled, irregular, leaves finely serrated, slightly wavy. Belgium.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Paradise (d'Automne). — Large, oblong obovate, and acute pyriform; color yellow, mottled and very often covered with bright cinnamon-colored russet; surface of skin uneven; stalk one and one-half inches long, enlarged at both ends, curved, and inserted at top of neck usually by fleshy folds; basin abrupt with elevations around it. Flesh quite fine, sometimes granular, juicy, melting, rich, vinous, very good. Season, autumn. Grown east of lakes. Belgium.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)