Leaf-buds small, short, pointed, plump, usually free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 3 in. long, 1-3/8 in. wide, thin; margin occasionally glandular, finely serrate or entire; petiole 1-1/2 in. long, slender. Flower-buds large, long, pointed, plump, free, singly on short spurs; flowers open late, with an unpleasant odor, 1-5/8 in. across; pedicels 1-1/8 in. long. Fruit ripens in late October and November; medium in size, acute-pyriform to oblong-pyriform, symmetrical; stem short, thick, curved; cavity obtuse, shallow, narrow, russeted, often wrinkled and occasionally lipped; calyx large, open, rounded and with a deeply-set center; basin obtuse, smooth, symmetrical; skin very tough, roughened with thick russet; color greenish-yellow, usually entirely overspread with solid, dark russet, changing to golden russet on the cheek exposed to the sun, with mottlings and flecks of russet; dots numerous, small, russet, obscure; flesh yellowish-white, fine, melting, rich, juicy, sweet; quality very good. Core large, closed, axile; calyx-tube short, wide, broadly conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute. [Illustration: MADELEINE] MADELEINE =1.= Duhamel _Trait. Arb. Fr._ =2=:124, Pl. IV. 1768. =2.= _Pom. Mag._ =2=:51, Pl. 1829. =3.= Prince _Pom. Man._ =1=:13. 1831. =4.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 341, fig. 138. 1845. =5.= _Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr._ 51. 1848. =6.= Elliott _Fr. Book_ 331, fig. 1854. =7.= Mas _Le Verger_ =2=:59, fig. 28. 1866-73. =8.= _Guide Prat._ 62, 287. 1876. _Sainte Madelaine._ =9.= Knoop _Pomologie_ 76, Tab. 1, fig. 1771. _Grüne Sommer-Magdalene._ =10.= Dochnahl _Führ. Obstkunde_ =2=:150. 1856. =11.= Lucas _Tafelbirnen_ 47, fig. 1894. _Citron des Carmes._ =12.= _Pom. France_ =3=: No. 101, Pl. 101. 1865. =13.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =1=:563, fig. 1867. =14.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 548. 1884. =15.= _Cat. Cong. Pom. France_ 212, fig. 1906. _Grüne Magdalene._ =16.= Mathieu _Nom. Pom._ 228. 1889. Madeleine has long been a dependable summer variety, the crop of which ripens just before that of Bloodgood. Many consider it the best very early summer pear, and if the product alone were to be considered it might well be called the best, but, unfortunately, the faults of the trees more than offset the virtues of the fruits. The pears are attractive in appearance, and very good in quality; but their season is short, their skins are tender, and the flesh quickly softens at the core. While the trees are productive, they are not resistant to blight, do not hold their crop well, are tender to cold, and are short-lived. The variety is worth planting only for the sake of succession in crop, and in large collections of pears. The variety is recommended on the Pacific slope for local markets.