Colonel Wilder originated in California and was once a favorite there, but is now little planted. At one time it was prominent in eastern orchards because of its late season and large, handsome, well -flavored fruits. The variety came in competition with Beurre d'Anjou, however, the season and fruits of the two being very similar, but the trees of Colonel Wilder were so greatly outmatched by those of Beurre d'Anjou that the new variety is less and less planted in the East. Perhaps it is worth preserving in pear collections for the sake of variety. This pear was raised by Bernard S. Fox of San Jose, California, about 1870. Tree medium in size, spreading and drooping, open-topped, an uncertain bearer; trunk shaggy ; branches stocky, very rough, reddish-brown, marked with many lenticels. Leaves 2 1/4 inches long, 1 1/4 inches wide, narrow, short, oval, leathery; apex abruptly pointed; margin glandless, finely serrate; petiole 2 1/4 inches long, slender, pale green or yellowish, sometimes with a tinge of pink. Blossoms open very late; flowers 1 1/4 inches across, in dense clusters, 7 or 8 buds in a cluster Fruit in season late December to February; large 3 inches long, 2 1/4 inches wide, uniform in size, ribbed, oblong-obovate-pyriform, with unequal sides; stem 3/4 inch long, thick, curved ; cavity small, obtuse ' shallow narrow furrowed, occasionally lipped ; calyx large: open; lobes separated at the base, narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, abrupt, usually smooth, symmetrical ; skin thick, tough, rough, dull ; color light yellow, often with a faint orange-red blush on the exposed cheek, with nettings and markings of russet; dots numerous, small, grayish and russet- colored, conspicuous; flesh yellowish - white, granular around the core' melting, buttery, very juicy, sweet, aromatic, with a musky flavor; quality good; core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds wide, plump, acute. -- condensed from U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York, 1921.