Ananas d'Été
Pear
Origin/History
An old variety from Holland. Hedrick notes that this is not the Dutch variety of Knoop but rather the type known in the British Isles as Ananas d'Été or King William Pear. Elliott describes it as a foreign variety and "a superior variety that deserves extensive planting."
Tree
Very vigorous (Downing, Elliott). Growth somewhat irregular (Thomas). Young shoots strong, of a rich reddish-yellowish brown (Downing), or brownish-purple (Thomas), with prominent sharp-pointed buds and oblong white specks (Downing). Elliott describes light brown wood with white oblong dots. Early regular bearer (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Rather large (Downing, Thomas). Large (Elliott). Above medium (Hedrick).
Form: Pyriform, or occasionally obtuse at the stalk (Downing). Obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick, Thomas). Oblong, obovate pyriform, angular (Elliott). Elliott notes this variety varies much in form, and that his figures are from specimens from the same tree.
Stem: An inch and a quarter long, inserted sometimes in a blunt cavity, sometimes without depression, by the side of a lip (Downing). Largest at base, or where it joins the fruit, and with a lip one side (Elliott). Stout and fleshy (Thomas).
Cavity: Sometimes a blunt cavity, sometimes without depression (Downing).
Calyx: Open, with short divisions (Downing, Elliott).
Basin: Shallow (Downing, Elliott). Small (Thomas). Shallow, open (Elliott).
Skin: Pale yellow, with a little brown on one side, and much covered with large, rough, brown russet dots (Downing). Yellowish-green with brownish tinge next the sun and covered with large, rough, brown-russet dots (Hedrick). Dull yellowish green, with much rough brown russet marbling (Elliott). Smooth, clear yellow, with numerous small dots, often with a blush (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: Fine-grained, buttery, and melting, with a sweet, perfumed, and high flavor; very good (Downing). Delicate, buttery, melting, with a pleasant, perfumed flavor; first quality (Hedrick). Whitish, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet, perfumed (Elliott). Fine-grained, buttery, and melting, sweet and very good (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core compact, capsules small; seeds long ovate (Elliott).
Season
September and October (Downing). Mid-September (Hedrick). Last of August and early September (Elliott). Early autumn (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Ananas d'Ete.
Ananas (of Manning and of Leroy). Ananas Francais. Du Bouchet. Summer Pine-apple. Favori Musque.
An old variety, from Holland, which here is one of our best late summer or early autumn Pears. Tree very vigorous. Young shoots strong, of a rich reddish-yellowish brown, with prominent sharp-pointed buds, and oblong white specks.
Fruit rather large, pyriform, or occasionally obtuse at the stalk. Skin pale yellow, with a little brown on one side, and much covered with large, rough, brown russet dots. Stalk an inch and a quarter long, inserted sometimes in a blunt cavity, sometimes without depression, by the side of a lip. Calyx open, with short divisions. Basin shallow. Flesh fine-grained, buttery, and melting, with a sweet, perfumed, and high flavor. Very good. September and October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Ananas d'Été.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 480. 1884.
This is not the Dutch variety of Knoop but rather the type known in the British Isles as Ananas d'Été or King William Pear. Fruit above medium, obtuse-pyriform, yellowish-green with brownish tinge next the sun and covered with large, rough, brown-russet dots; flesh delicate, buttery, melting, with a pleasant, perfumed flavor; first; mid-Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Ananas D'Ete.
Ananas, of some, | Poire Ananas.
Foreign. A superior variety that deserves extensive planting. Tree, vigorous, light brown wood, with white oblong dots, early regular bearer, fruit always large and excellent.
Fruit, large, oblong, obovate pyriform, angular; color, dull yellowish green, with much rough brown russet marbling; stem, largest at base, or where it joins the fruit, and with a lip one side; calyx, open, short divisions; basin, shallow, open; core, compact, capsules small; seeds, long ovate; flesh, whitish, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet, perfumed Last August and early September. This variety varies much in form. Our figures are from specimens from same tree.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Ananas d'Été. Rather large, obtuse-pyriform; skin smooth, clear yellow, with numerous small dots, often with a blush; stalk stout and fleshy; basin small; flesh fine-grained, buttery, and melting, sweet and very good. Early autumn. Growth somewhat irregular, shoots brownish-purple. Holland.