Fruit ripe December to January; medium in size, 2-1/2 in. long, 2-1/8 in. wide, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, somewhat irregular; stem 1 in. long, very thick; cavity obtuse, shallow, narrow, russeted, slightly furrowed; calyx partly open; lobes separated at the base, rather narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, gently furrowed; skin thick, granular, tender, roughish; color greenish-yellow, sprinkled with reddish-brown and russet patches and nettings; dots numerous, small, russet, obscure; flesh tinged with yellow, granular, tender, buttery, very juicy, sweet, vinous, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, plump, acute. [Illustration: PITMASTON] PITMASTON =1.= _Can. Hort._ =26=:129, fig. 2564. 1903. =2.= Ont. Dept. Agr. _Fr. Ont._ 173, fig. 1914. _Pitmaston Duchesse d'Angoulême._ =3.= _Gard. Chron._ 1108, fig. 1864. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._ 55. 1871. _Pitmaston Duchess._ =5.= _Jour. Hort._ N. S. =18=:11, fig. 1870. =6.= Tilton _Jour. Hort._ =7=:239, fig. 1870. =7.= _Jour. Hort._ N. S. 38:201, fig. 30. 1880. =8.= Hogg _Fruit Man._ 631. 1884. =9.= _Gard. Chron._ 3rd Ser. =4=:608. 1888. =10.= _Rev. Hort._ 196, 651. 1900. =11.= Bunyard _Handb. Hardy Fr._ 193. 1920. Although this fine old English pear has more than ordinary merit, it seems to be little grown in America. In appearance, the pears are unsurpassed. The accompanying color-plate shows the shape and color very well, but not the size, as, well grown, the pears are larger. From the illustration, all must agree that the pears are handsome, fruits of few other sorts being so alluring in shape and color. On warm soils or in warm seasons, the flavor is choicely good giving the pears a rating of "good to very good;" but in cold soils and seasons, the flavor is often austere, or even acid and astringent. The season prolongs that of Bartlett, and as the fruits are flavored very differently, being more piquant and refreshing, and are ordinarily larger and handsomer, Pitmaston ought to make a good market variety where it thrives. The subacid flavor makes this one of the very best pears for culinary purposes. Such reports as are at hand state that the fruits keep and ship well. The variety seems not to have been grown widely in America, so that one cannot speak with assurance of the tree-characters; but on the grounds of this Station, the trees have fewer faults than those of most of the standard varieties. They are hardy, vigorous, fairly immune to blight, and while but moderately productive, bear annually, and the large size of the fruits makes them high yielders. The variety should be put on probation by those who grow for the markets, and is well worthy a place in all home orchards.