Alexander
PearAlexander
[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — all four sources describe a pear named Alexander (Hedrick's account is from The Pears of New York; the fruit is described as obovate pyriform with flesh gritty at the core), not an apple; if this entry is intended for an apple of this name, these sources describe a different fruit.]
Origin / History
Originated in the town of Alexander, Genesee County, N.Y. Hedrick calls it the village of Alexander. He records that it came from seed planted about 1820 by a Mrs. Churchill, and that it was shown at the Fruit Growers' Society Exhibition held at Buffalo, N.Y., on Sept. 13, 1855. Hedrick's bibliographic entry for it is Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, page 449, 1857.
Tree
Tree of moderate growth (Downing). Young shoots rather stout and yellowish (Elliott); young wood light olive brown (Downing). Leaves narrow, acuminate, deep green (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Medium, or medium or below (Elliott).
Form: Obovate pyriform, obovate-obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick), or oblong obovate (Thomas). Somewhat to often one-sided. Slightly irregular (Elliott).
Stem: Slender, rather long, curved, fleshy at its insertion. One and a quarter inch long (Elliott).
Cavity: Shallow (Elliott).
Calyx: Small and partly closed, with short, irregular segments (Elliott). Large and closed (Downing).
Basin: Narrow, of medium depth (Elliott).
Skin: Rather thick (Elliott). Yellowish green, netted and splashed with cinnamon russet, often overspread with it. Hedrick has the russet nearly covering the fruit except in the shade, with occasionally a faint brownish blush in the sun.
Dots: Russet (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, a little coarse to rather coarse, and gritty. Elliott places the grit at the core; Hedrick has it somewhat gritty at the center. Melting, very juicy, sugary. Rich (Elliott, Downing, Thomas). "Very good" (Downing, Thomas, Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Core small. Seeds small, nearly black, and pointed (Elliott).
Season
Elliott, Downing, and Thomas give an autumn season in September and October. Downing specifies the last of September and early October. Hedrick gives December to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Very similar to Gray Doyenné, but distinct (Hedrick).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Alexander.
Originated in the town of Alexander, Genesee Co., N. Y. Young shoots yellowish, rather stout ; leaves, narrow, acuminate, deep green ; fruit, medium or below, obovate, slightly irregular and often one-sided ; stem, one and a quarter inch, curved, fleshy at base, in a shallow cavity ; calyx, small, partly closed; segments, short, irregular; basin, narrow, medium depth ; skin, yellowish green, rather thick, often overspread with cinnamon russet : flesh, white, a little coarse, and gritty at core, melting, very juicy, with rich, sugary flavor ; core, small ; seeds, small, nearly black and pointed. September and October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Alexander.
Origin, town of Alexander, N. Y. Tree moderate growth. Young wood light olive brown.
Fruit medium, obovate pyriform, somewhat one-sided. Skin yellowish green, dotted, netted, and splashed with russet. Stalk slender, rather long, curved, fleshy at its insertion. Calyx large, closed. Flesh white, a little coarse and gritty, very juicy, melting, sugary, and rich. Very good. Ripe last of September and early October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Alexander. Medium, oblong obovate, greenish and russet; juicy, melting, rich, very good. October. N. Y.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Alexander. 1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 449. 1857.
Originated at the village of Alexander, Genesee County, N. Y., from seed planted about 1820 by a Mrs. Churchill. It was shown at the Fruit Growers' Society Exhibition held at Buffalo, N. Y., on Sept. 13, 1855. Although very similar to Gray Doyenné, it is distinct. Fruit medium, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, yellowish-green, nearly overspread with cinnamon-russet except in the shade, and having occasionally a faint brownish blush in the sun; flesh white, rather coarse and somewhat gritty at the center, melting and very juicy, sugary; very good; Dec. to Feb.