Ah-Mon-Dieu

Pear

Ah-Mon-Dieu Pear

Origin / History

An old French pear of ancient and obscure origin. According to Hedrick, the name 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. Downing lists it under several additional names: Poire d'Abondance, Mandieu, Mod Dieu, The my-God Pear, Beurre Sprin, and Esperine. It is cited in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:93, fig. (1867) and Hogg, Fruit Man. 470 (1884).

Tree

Vigorous, upright, and productive (Downing). Not further described in Hedrick.

Fruit

Size: Downing describes the fruit as medium; Hedrick describes it as small.

Form: Obovate acute pyriform (Downing); obovate (Hedrick).

Stem: Not described in either source.

Cavity: Not described in either source.

Calyx: Not described in either source.

Basin: Not described in either source.

Skin: Downing describes the skin as pale yellow and smooth, nearly covered with red. Hedrick describes it as lemon-yellow, dotted with russet, and washed with lively rose on the side next the sun. The two accounts agree on a yellow ground color with red/rose coloring, but differ in extent: Downing's "nearly covered with red" suggests broader coverage than Hedrick's sun-side wash. Hedrick additionally notes russet dotting, not mentioned by Downing.

Flesh / Flavor: The two sources differ in several respects. Downing describes the flesh as white, juicy, slightly vinous, and sweet, rating it Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish-white, coarse, and breaking in texture, not very juicy nor sugary, but full of perfume and flavor, also rating it good.

Core / Seeds: Not described in either source.

Season

Downing gives October; Hedrick gives September.

Storage

Does not keep long after being gathered (Hedrick).

Uses

Not described in either source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in either source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

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.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

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.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Beurre Sprin Esperine Mandieu Mod Dieu Poire d'Abondance The my-God Pear D'Amour Dorothee Royale Nouvelle Poire d'Abondance Esperine