Augustus Dana
PearAugustus Dana
Origin/History
An American pear originated by Francis Dana of Boston, Massachusetts. First cited in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869). Described by Thomas as "New" at the time of his writing.
Tree
A good but not strong or handsome grower (Downing). Thomas describes the growth as irregular and thorny, comparing it to the Dix pear. Young shoots are of a light reddish brown color (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to rather large (Hedrick; Thomas: medium or large; Downing: medium). Form varies: Downing and Hedrick describe it as ranging from acute-pyriform to obtuse-pyriform, globular-obtuse; Thomas describes it as obovate.
Stem: Long, curved (Thomas; Downing concurs on curved), often set to one side of the true axis (Downing). Scarcely sunken at the obtuse end (Thomas); Downing notes it is set with a slight depression.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Downing). Eye large, slightly sunken (Thomas).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Sources differ 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 with dots. Both accounts agree on russeting and surface dotting; the yellow vs. dull green ground color may reflect different stages of maturity or observer variation.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish (Downing, Hedrick), juicy, melting, sweet, slightly aromatic (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas emphasizes 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.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)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.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)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.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)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.