The Fifth Dwarf-tree. A First Ambret.*

And this follows it as near as 'tis possible; and indeed is ordinarily a most Excellent Pear in every point, having a fine melting Pulp, and a certain rich Taste that is very charming, provided it be of the growth of a good Soil, and that without suffering any Miscarriage, or any other ill Accident upon the Tree, it come to its perfect Maturity; but yet I know not what greenish Tincture in its Pulp, and a faintish Taste in its Juice, and particularly a strange kind of unknown, and secret lurking dry rottenness found in some of these Fruits, appear to me three sorts of Defects, for which, in my Opinion, this Pear in general ought without Repugnance, to yield the precedence to the Leschasserie, and might with good Reason enough do it likewise to the Winter Thorn-pear, when it at∣tains all the Perfection 'tis capable of. For indeed, this Thorn-pear, when it grows in a Country hot enough, in a dry Ground, and a good Exposition, in Years moderately rainy, and upon a Standard or half Standard-tree well placed, is so perfect in all its Qua∣lities, that it equals the delicateness of the Pulp of good Peaches, and is of such Excel∣lence, that the name of Marvellous has been given it in the Provinces of Angoumois, Xantoigne and Poitou, Provinces situated in a marvellous Climate, and which are known to be famous for the great number of Sorts of good Fruits they produce, and of Persons of Quality that divertise themselves there in Gardenage: And I confess in good Truth, That among all Pears, I find none better than this, when it attains the full goodness of its kind; but, at the same time. I cannot but confess likewise, That it is very hard to find any perfect ones of them; so that one may say of them, and of the Petit-oins, Ambrets, Louise-bonnes and Colmars, &c. what is said of new laid Eggs, That the least Defect is enough to make them be rejected: Whereas it is not so with other Pears, they are not rejected, though they want some degree of natural Perfection, for all Butter pears, Russelets, Boncretiens, &c. are not every Pear of them of the most Excellent in their Kind, and yet that hinders not People from eating them, though but of a midling Goodness.

There truly still remains a small Reproach to be made to this Thorn-pear, because it ripens sometimes at the same time with the other Pears which I have newly placed before it, and consequently according to those Regards I always have in making this Choice, and from which it will be convenient I should never depart, it would be much better to Plant some good Fruit of another Season in this little Garden, rather than this Pear; but to this I answer, That since this objected Inconvenience of over-hasty ripening, happens but very seldom, instead of banishing the Thorn-pear from hence for such a Reproach as that, we ought rather to be careful to plant it there, and especially if there be already no Bergamot Dwarf-tree, because it makes a very agreeable Dwarf-tree, and easily takes to bear.

I persist therefore to give to the Thorn pear at least