Besi d'Hery (PI
541130) - Originated in Brittany, France, about 1598. Fruit
medium or smaller in size, globular in form. Skin deep yellow,
usually with prominent red cheek, quite free of blemish, very
attractive. Flesh moderately fine, hard in texture, lacking in
juiciness. Fairly sweet but somewhat bitter in taste. Late keeper.
Tree reasonably vigorous, wide spreading in habit, average foliage,
moderately susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957
Black Worcester (PI
541484) - Possibly of French origin. British references to this
cultivar date back to 1575. Also know as 'Black Pear of Worcester' or
Parkinson's 'Warden' or baking pear. Several authors make this a
synonym of the French 'Poire de Livre' or 'Livre'. May be the same as
a 'Pound Pear' grown by the Romans during the first century. Fruit
large, obovate; skin thick, green, rough, nearly covered with dark
russet, occasionally with a dull tinge on the sun side; calyx small,
nearly closed, set in a wide and rather deep basin; stem about an
inch long, very stout and woody, inserted without depression; flesh
pale yellow, hard, crisp, coarse, flavorless, rather gritty. Tree:
vigorous, hardy, bears well; young shoots dark yellow-olive,
diverging. A good cooking pear. November to February.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Bon Chretien d'Hiver (PI
255609) - A volume might be filled with a record of the endeavors
to determine the origin of this pear. As to its great antiquity all
are agreed. It is established that it was imported into France from
Italy in 1495 by Charles VIII on his conquest of the kingdom of
Naples, but whether it was the 'Crustuminum' of the Romans or whether
it received its name at the beginning of Christianity remains
uncertain. One explanation of the name was that Francois de Paul, the
founder of a monkish order, being called to the court of Louis XI for
the recovery of his health, was styled by that monarch "le bon
Chretien" and that he brought with him from Calabria some of this
fruit which henceforth acquired the name it bears. That suggestion,
however, is evidently erroneous as Saint Froncois de Paul's visit to
the King at Tours took place in 1483 whereas this pear was introduced
to France in 1495. It is thought not improbable that the name is
derived from the Greek panchresta, meaning "all good" of which the
Latin Crustuminum of the Romans may also be a derivation.
Fruit large and sometimes very large, variable in form, irregularly
pyriform or obovate-turbinate, rather rough to the touch, dull
greenish-yellow, some brown next to the sun, and strewed with small,
russet dots; flesh whitish, crisp, juicy, sweet, aromatic and vinous;
a dessert pear of merit, first class for cooking; December to
March.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Messire Jean (PI
541233) - Origin uncertain. Reference to the variety in French
pomological literature dates back to 1550 or possibly to 1540. Listed
in the catalog of Prince Nurseries, Long Island, New York as early as
1771. A small- fruited pear resembling 'Winter Nelis' in form, color
and pleasing flavor but decidedly inferior to 'Winter Nelis' in
dessert quality. Late keeper but withers badly in storage. Tree
fairly vigorous, true dwarf on quince, inclined toward biennial
bearing. Moderately susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957
Petit Blanquet (PI
541242) - Apparently there is no authentic record of the origin
of this variety. According to Leroy it was well known in French
gardens as early as the middle of the sixteenth century. Fruit very
small in size, usually obtuse-pyriform but quite variable in shape.
Skin clear, straw-colored, waxy, few green dots. Flesh moderately
fine, firm, not juicy. Sweet but lacking in desirable flavor and
texture characteristics. Early in season. First known in Europe under
the name of 'Perle'.
- H. Hartman, 1957
Petit Muscat (PI
277526) - Jean Mayer, director of the gardens of the Grand Duke
of Wurtzburg, Bavaria, in his Pomona Franconica published in 1801
showed that the Petit Muscat was the antique pear 'Superba' described
by Pliny. Various other pomologists wrote of it prior to Mayer...
Charles Estienne was the first to write of it in France in 1530, and
he named it 'Musquette'. Fruit very small, turbinate, more or less
obtuse and sometimes globular-turbinate; the eye is placed in a
regular-formed cavity and is always naked in consequence of the
segments of the calyx falling off, pale greenish-yellow, finely
dotted and slightly clouded with rose on the side of the sun (in
France); flesh yellowish, semi-fine, breaking, not very juicy,
sugary, acidulous and with a pleasant musk flavor; second; June.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Red Pear (PI
541317) - A perry pear grown largely in Herefordshire, England.
Origin in England about 1500. Fruit: small, globular, even and
regular in outline, inclining to turbinate, almost entirely covered
with rather bright red, yellow around the stalk where shaded,
sprinkled all over with pale gray dots; flesh quite yellow firm, dry
and gritty.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Rousselet de Reims (PI
541256) - This pear is of very ancient and uncertain origin. Many
authors have tried to trace it back to Roman times. Pliny and other
ancient horticulturists did not give adequate descriptions to allow
certain identification. It is clear that the Rousselet de Rheins has
existed, particularly around the city of Reims, France for many
centuries. It is said to have been the favorite pear of King Louis
XIV. Fruit small, turbinate, rarely very obtuse; skin bright green or
yellow-green, sprinkled with large and small gray-russet dots and
extensively shaded with reddish-brown on the side to the sun; flesh
white, fine or semi-fine, almost melting, not very juicy, righ in
sugar, acidulous, refreshing, highly perfuned; a little later than
Bartlett in season, susceptible to core breakdown. One of the best
early pears for dessert, very good for candying. September.
Moderately susceptible to blight. Tree very vigorous, spreading and
willowy in habit, almost standard tree on quince, productive.
- H. Hartman, 1957
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Sanguinole (PI
277529) - Very similar or identical to 'Summer Blutbirne' (blood
pear) from Germany, 'Rotkottig frau Ostergotland' (red flesh from
Ostergotland) in Sweden, and 'Lubenicarka' (watermellon pear) from
former Yugoslavia. This old pear is of consequence only on account of
the color of its flesh. According to Claude Mollet, 1810, it was
imported to France from Switzerland. It was known in Germany in 1500.
Fruit: below medium or small, variable in form, turbinate- obtuse, or
globular, bossed; skin rather thick and rough, green dotted with gray
and red, sprinkled with streaks and patches of russet, and sometimes
slightly carmined on the face exposed to the sun; flesh transparent,
red, simi-fine, semi-breaking, juicy, saccharine, acidulous, more or
less musky, agreeable; second sometimes third (Hedrick's rating) the
flesh decomposing rapidly; August and September.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921
Sotoorhime (PI 506363) - A very old cultivar from the Tohoku area of Japan. This is an ancestor of many modern Japanese cultivars.
Spina Carpi (PI 286221) - Originated in Italy about 1575. Synonyms include 'Casentina' and 'Duchessa di Montebello'. There is recent renewed interest in this cultivar as a source of resistance to the pear psylla.
Sucree Verte (PI
541269) - The name means "Sweet Green" in English. Origin
obscure. Believed to have come from Barmont, a chateau on the
boundary of Burgundy. Described as early as 1598. Well known in Paris
by 1670. Fruit small in size, roundish-turbinate in form. Skin
smooth, glossy, intense green in color with inconspicuous dots. Flesh
white, fine, but with some grit at the center, buttery, juicy. Fairly
sweet, nut-like aroma, pleasing flavor. Early midseason. Tree
vigorous, spreading in habit, very productive. Moderately susceptible
to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957
Verte Longue d'Automne (PI
541278) - The name means 'Long Green of Autumn'. Not to be
confused with 'Longue Vert' which is a distinct variety. The origin
of this ancient variety is uncertain. It is known to have been grown
extensively in France 500 years ago. The German author, Henry Munger,
considered it identical with the variety 'Viridium' supposedly
described by Pliny during the first century A.D. The validity of this
deduction, however, was questioned by European authors of a later
period. Fruit medium in size, obtuse-turbinate in form, sometimes
lopsided. Skin generally green in color with prominent gray dots.
Flesh fine, melting, juicy. Usually quite sweet and pleasing in
flavor but may be of mediocre quality unless properly grown and
handled. Early midseason. Tree vogorous, upright in habit, fairly
productive. Quite susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957
Tse Li (PI 312509) - Another common English spelling is 'Tsu Li', which may be confused with another large fruited Chinese pear not grown in the United States. A famous ancient pear from Northeastern China dates back over three thousand years! Still in production in the Chucheng, Laiyang and Penglai districts of Shantung Province.
Origin and description information quoted with slight modifications and additions from:
March 1996, J. Postman