BELLE D' AVRIL.
Illustrations 114a, 114b, 114c.
vril, belle d'.
Unknown origin, received from Belgium.
SHAPE: very regular.
SIZE: third grade.
EYE: open, with large, curled sepals, in a broad, shallow, saucer-shaped basin, with some little ribs and folds.
STALK: 15 - 20 mms long, thin, woody, in a broad, shallow cavity with hardly any russeting.
The COLOUR is greenish yellow, later golden yellow, at the sun side nicely coloured and flamed, with occasional dark lenticels and spots. The skin is smooth.
The FLESH is yellowish white, juicy, soft. The core is medium, small cells and usually perfect, dark brown pips.
TIME OF USE: November - January; second grade for dessert and kitchen.
The TREE grows well; the twigs are medium, olive-brown, few lenticels; the buds are conical, flat; the shoots are medium, olive-coloured, with woolly tips; the leaf stalks are 20 - 30 mms long, rather thick, slightly grooved; the leaves are oval, uneven and dull serrating.
Suitable for pyramid shape.