Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, open-topped, hardy, very productive; trunk stocky, smooth; branches zigzag, greenish-brown, partly overspread with thin gray scarf-skin, marked on the younger wood with very numerous large, round lenticels; branchlets slender, very long, willowy, brownish-green overlaid with thin gray, dull, the new growth reddish-green, with numerous large, roundish, raised lenticels. Leaf-buds very small, short, pointed, appressed. Leaves 3-1/2 in. long, 1-1/2 in. wide, stiff; apex variable; margin glandless, finely serrate; petiole 2-5/8 in. long, glabrous, tinged with red; stipules very long and slender, pinkish. Flower-buds small, short, conical, free, singly on short spurs; flowers 1-3/8 in. across, well distributed, average 5 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1-1/8 in. long, slender, pubescent. Fruit matures in late August and September; medium in size, about 2-1/4 in. in length and width, roundish, with an obtuse neck, tapering very slightly; stem 1-1/8 in. long, slender; cavity a slight, narrow depression, occasionally lipped; calyx large, open; lobes separated at the base, long, acuminate; basin shallow, obtuse, smooth, symmetrical; skin thick, tender, roughish; color yellow, sprinkled with few russet lines and nettings; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, firm, coarse and granular, tender, very juicy, sweet, aromatic, pleasing but not richly flavored; quality good. Core unusually large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, very wide, long, plump, acuminate. [Illustration: LINCOLN CORELESS] LINCOLN CORELESS =1.= Parry _Cat._ 9, fig. 1891. =2.= _Ann. Hort._ 185. 1892. =3.= _Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._ 137. 1894. =4.= _Ibid._ 52, 178. 1896. =5.= _Rural N. Y._ =64=:256. 1905. The product of Lincoln Coreless is worthless for dessert, and but a coarse makeshift for culinary purposes. The variety receives attention only because the pear is a monstrosity and a curiosity. The fruits are enormous in size, outweighing all other pears unless it be those of the Pound. They are unique in having a very small core and few or sometimes no seeds. They are further characterized by very late maturity, ripening later than those of any other pear on the grounds of this Station and keeping until April. While usually rather dull greenish-yellow in color, the cheek is often enlivened by a bright blush which makes the fruits rather attractive despite their grossness. The catalogs describe the trees as "blight proof," but they blight on the grounds of this Station. The variety is worth growing only as an interesting curiosity.