Alexander
PearAlexander
Origin/History
Originated in the town (or village) of Alexander, Genesee County, N.Y. (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick, Thomas). According to Hedrick, the variety was grown from seed planted about 1820 by a Mrs. Churchill, and was shown at the Fruit Growers' Society Exhibition held at Buffalo, N.Y., on September 13, 1855. Hedrick notes that although Alexander is very similar to Gray Doyenné, it is distinct.
Tree
Tree of moderate growth (Downing). Young shoots described by Elliott as yellowish and rather stout; Downing describes the young wood as light olive brown. Leaves narrow, acuminate, deep green (Elliott).
Fruit
Size
Medium (Downing, Thomas, Hedrick), or medium to below medium (Elliott).
Form
Obovate and slightly irregular, often one-sided (Elliott); obovate pyriform, somewhat one-sided (Downing); oblong obovate (Thomas); obovate-obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick).
Stem
One and a quarter inch long, curved, fleshy at base (Elliott); slender, rather long, curved, fleshy at its insertion (Downing).
Cavity
Shallow (Elliott).
Calyx
Sources disagree: Elliott describes the calyx as small and partly closed, with short, irregular segments; Downing describes it as large and closed.
Basin
Narrow, of medium depth (Elliott).
Skin
Yellowish green, rather thick, often overspread with cinnamon russet (Elliott); yellowish green, dotted, netted, and splashed with russet (Downing); greenish and russet (Thomas); yellowish-green, nearly overspread with cinnamon-russet except in the shade, and having occasionally a faint brownish blush in the sun (Hedrick).
Flesh/Flavor
White, a little coarse and gritty at the core (or center), melting, very juicy, with rich, sugary flavor (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick agree on these particulars). Thomas: juicy, melting, rich. Quality rated "very good" (Downing, Hedrick, Thomas).
Core/Seeds
Core small; seeds small, nearly black, and pointed (Elliott).
Season
Sources disagree: Elliott gives September and October; Downing gives the last of September and early October; Thomas gives October; Hedrick gives December to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
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.