AUGUSTE JURIE

Auguste Jurie

Origin/History

This pear originated from seed sown on the 11th of August, 1851, at the École d'Horticulture at Ecully, near Lyons, under the direction of the late M. Willermoz of France. It was named in honour of M. Auguste Jurie, President of the Horticultural Society of the Rhone. The parentage is given as Beurré Giffard by the Herefordshire Pomona; Downing, however, lists it as a seedling of M. Fortune — these attributions conflict and both are recorded here. The fruit here described by the Herefordshire Pomona was grown in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, and it received the certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society on August 24th, 1880.

Tree

The tree grows well and bears freely as a pyramid on the quince (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes it as moderately vigorous and very productive.

Fruit

Size and Form: The two sources conflict on size and form. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as above medium size, measuring three and a half inches by two and a half inches wide, and obtuse ovate in shape. Downing, by contrast, calls it small and oblate pyriform.

Stem: One inch to an inch and a half long, inserted without depression (Herefordshire Pomona). Not described in Downing.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx/Eye: Closed, with tooth-like segments, set even with the surface (Herefordshire Pomona). Not described in Downing.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: The two sources conflict on colour. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin as green, becoming yellowish green as it ripens, with a thin speckled coat of russet on the side next the sun, and strewed all over with russet patches. Downing describes it as yellow, shaded with dark red in the sun — markedly different, with no mention of russet. The Herefordshire Pomona further notes that in France, as described by the Abbé Dupuy, it has a much brighter colour than the English-grown specimens, and the fruit grows more round in shape with a shorter stalk.

Flesh and Flavor: The sources differ substantially in flesh character. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the flesh as crisp, rather granular, sweet, briskly flavoured, and with a fine melon flavour. Downing describes it as white, half melting, juicy, slightly vinous, and slightly musky — a distinctly different texture and flavour profile. Downing rates it Good.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripe in the middle of August (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing likewise gives August.

Uses

A valuable early pear, well worthy of general cultivation (Herefordshire Pomona).

Subtypes/Variants

The Herefordshire Pomona notes that fruit grown in France is described by the Abbé Dupuy as more round in shape, with a shorter stalk and a much brighter colour than specimens grown in England at Chiswick — suggesting notable variation by growing region.

Other

Not described in source.