Augustus Dana

Pear

Augustus Dana

Origin/History

An American pear originated by Francis Dana of Boston, Massachusetts. Hedrick (1921) cites Downing's 1869 entry as the earliest published record.

Tree

A good but not strong or handsome grower (Downing). Growth irregular and thorny, resembling the Dix in habit (Thomas). Young shoots of a light reddish brown color (Downing).

Fruit

Size: Medium to rather large. Downing gives "medium"; Hedrick gives "medium to rather large"; Thomas gives "medium or large."

Form: Downing and Hedrick describe the fruit as globular-obtuse, varying from acute-pyriform to obtuse-pyriform. Thomas describes it as obovate.

Stem: Curved. Downing notes the stalk is often set to one side of the true axis and is set into a slight depression. Thomas describes it as long and curved, scarcely sunk at the obtuse end.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Open (Downing). Thomas describes the eye as large and slightly sunk.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Sources conflict on ground color. Downing and Hedrick describe the skin as yellow, netted and patched with russet, with russet dots. Thomas describes it as dull green, slightly rough, partly russeted, and thickly dotted.

Flesh and Flavor: Whitish (Downing, Hedrick), juicy, melting, and aromatic. Downing and Hedrick characterize the flavor as sweet and slightly aromatic; Thomas describes it as rich and aromatic. Quality rated good to very good (Downing) and first quality (Hedrick).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas extends the season to October and November.

Uses

Not described in source.

Other

Thomas notes the variety as "New" and locates its origin in Massachusetts, consistent with the Boston attribution in Downing and Hedrick.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1900)

Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900

View original book sources (3)

Augustus Dana.

An American Pear, originated with Francis Dana, Boston, Mass. The tree is a good but not strong or a handsome grower. Young shoots of a light reddish brown color.

Fruit medium, varying in form from acute pyriform to obtuse pyriform. Skin yellow, netted and patched with russet, and russet dots. Stalk often one side of a true axis, curved, and set with slight depression. Calyx open. Flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly aromatic. Good to very good. October.

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

Augustus Dana.

Downing Fr. Trees Am. 663. 1869.

Originated by Francis Dana of Boston, Mass. Fruit medium to rather large, globular-obtuse and varying from acute-pyriform to obtuse-pyriform, yellow, russeted; flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly aromatic; first; Oct.

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

Augustus Dana. Medium or large, obovate; skin dull green, slightly rough, partly russeted, thickly dotted; stalk long, curved, scarcely sunk on the obtuse end; eye large, slightly sunk; flesh juicy, melting, rich, aromatic. October and November. Growth irregular, thorny, like Dix. Massachusetts. New.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)