The Wilmington is a seedling of the Passe Colmar, raised from seed planted by the undersigned in 1847, and grafted on quince in 1850. This grafted tree fruited for the first time in 1855, and bore only a single specimen, which was eaten on the 2d of October. In 1856, it matured ten specimens; the first was eaten on the 9th of September - the last during the meeting of the American Pomological Society in Rochester. The original tree has not yet fruited.

Size, medium, from 2 and 11-16th inches by 2½ to 2 3/8 by 2 and 5-16ths. Form, sometimes ob-tuse-pyriform, somewhat compressed at the sides, sometimes roundish-ovate; which of these two forms will ultimately be the normal one, can only be determined when the variety has fully established its characteristic peculiarities. Shin, cinnamon russet, with patches of greenish-yellow on the shaded side, and sometimes faint traces of carmine on the part exposed to the sun, with occasionally a number of black dots, encircled by a carmine margin. Stem, somewhat variable, from 1½ inches by one-eighth to one and one-fourth by one-sixth, of a uniform, cinnamon color, curved; inserted obliquely in a small cavity, and, in some instances, without depression. Calyx, medium, with short, erect segments, set in a wide, rather deep, sometimes slightly furrowed basin. Core, medium. Seed,dark brown, acuminate, with an angle, at the obtuse end, three-eighths of an inch long, three-sixteenths wide, and one-eighth thick. Flesh, fine texture, melting, and buttery.

Flavor, rich and saccharine, with the delicious aroma of the Pa6se Colmar. Quality, "best" Maturity, September. Eaten, October 2, 1855.