Ah-Mon-Dieu
PearAh-Mon-Dieu
Origin / History
An old French pear (Downing), of ancient and obscure origin and with various names (Hedrick). The name Ah-Mon-Dieu is attributed to the exclamation of those words by King Louis XIV, who, visiting his gardens, saw the tree heavily laden with fruit (Hedrick).
Tree
Vigorous, upright, productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Small to medium; small (Hedrick), medium (Downing).
Form: Obovate; obovate acute pyriform (Downing).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth; pale yellow (Downing) or lemon-yellow (Hedrick). Downing has it nearly covered with red; Hedrick has it washed with lively rose on the side next the sun.
Dots: Dotted with russet (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: White to yellowish-white. Downing: juicy, slightly vinous, and sweet. Hedrick: coarse, breaking, not very juicy nor sugary, but full of perfume and flavor. Quality "Good" (Downing); "good" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September (Hedrick) to October (Downing). Does not keep long after being gathered (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick cites Leroy, Dictionnaire pomologique, 1:93, fig. (1867), and Hogg, Fruit Manual, 470 (1884).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Ah ! Mon Dieu
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1849) from Massachusetts
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849 — listed as Beurré Sprin
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Ah ! Mon Dieu. Poire d'Abondance. Mandieu. Mod Dieu. The my-God Pear. Beurre Sprin. Esperine. An old French Pear. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Fruit medium, obovate acute pyriform. Skin pale yellow, smooth, nearly covered with red. Flesh white, juicy, slightly vinous, and sweet. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Ah-Mon-Dieu.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:93, fig. 1867. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 470. 1884. This pear has had various names and is of ancient and obscure origin. Ah-Mon-Dieu is attributed to the exclamation of those words by King Louis XIV, who when visiting his gardens saw this pear tree heavily laden with fruit. Fruit small, obovate, lemon-yellow, dotted with russet, washed with lively rose on the side next the sun; flesh yellowish-white, coarse, breaking, not very juicy nor sugary, but full of perfume and flavor; good, but does not keep long after being gathered; Sept.