Autumn Bergamot (English)
Pear
Autumn Bergamot (English)
Origin / History
Foreign (Elliott). Hedrick cites descriptions in the Pomological Magazine, volume 3, page 120, with plate, 1830, and in Lindley's Guide, page 352, 1831. Switzer, writing in the early part of the eighteenth century, stated that the variety was introduced into England in the days of Julius Caesar and that it was possibly the Assyrian Pear of Virgil. If so, it "was in that case to have been found in the 'once celebrated and famous gardens of Alcinous.'" Lindley endorsed the statement in 1831. Hedrick calls this "a doubtful conjecture, though without doubt the variety is of very ancient origin." Autumn Bergamot (English) is distinct from the Bergamotte d'Automne of the French and not synonymous with it (Downing, Hedrick); Elliott likewise describes the French fruit separately.
Tree
Productive: Coxe says it "produces abundantly," and Hedrick calls it prolific. Coxe calls the tree "not very vigorous." Hedrick calls it vigorous, forming a handsome standard, and says it succeeds on either quince or pear.
Fruit
Size: Small; "rather a small pear" (Coxe).
Form: Roundish and flattened, globular-obtuse (Hedrick). Very flat at the blossom end and diminished toward the stalk end, which is also flattened (Coxe).
Stem: Short (Coxe).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Roughish, green to yellowish green, dull brown where exposed to the sun (Hedrick).
Dots: Gray specks, the skin profusely speckled with gray russet (Hedrick). Coxe gives black spots.
Flesh and flavor: Greenish white, though Coxe calls it white. Tender, melting, juicy, coarse-grained or somewhat gritty at the core. Sprightly, sugary, and of a rich flavor. Hedrick rates it "a dessert pear of first quality." Elliott holds it valueless, calling the French Bergamotte "equally valueless."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September, in season during the whole month according to Coxe. Hedrick alone gives October.
Uses
Dessert (Hedrick).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The French Bergamotte d'Automne is pyriform (Elliott). Its skin is light yellowish green with a brownish-red cheek. Its flesh is breaking, juicy, and refreshing, but not high-flavored. Downing calls it "a second-rate fruit," and Elliott calls it "equally valueless."
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Autumn Bergamot
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Autumn Bergamot
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Autumn Bergamot
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
View original book sources (4)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)
- AUTUMN BERGAMOT.
This is rather a small pear, very flat at the blossom end, and diminished towards the stalk end which is also flattened—the stem is short, the skin green with black spots, the flesh is white, juicy and sprightly—the tree is not very vigorous, but produces abundantly; it is in season during the whole month of September.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Autumn Bergamot. English Bergamot, | York Bergamot, | English Autumn Bergamot. Foreign. Small, roundish, green, gray specks. September. The French Automne Bergamotte is pyriform, light yellowish green, equally valueless.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Autumn Bergamot. English Bergamot. York Bergamot. Common Bergamot. English Autumn Bergamot. Fruit small, roundish, and flattened. Skin roughish green. Flesh greenish white, coarse-grained at the core, juicy, sugary. September. The Bergamotte d'Automne of the French is a distinct fruit from this. Skin light yellowish green, brownish red cheek. Flesh breaking, juicy, and refreshing, but not high-flavored. A second-rate fruit.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Autumn Bergamot (English), i. Pom. Mag. 3:120, Pl. 1830. a. Lindley Guide Orch. Card. 352. 1831.
The English Autumn Bergamot or Common Bergamot is a distinct variety and not synonymous with the Bergamotte d'Automne of France. Writing in the early part of the eighteenth century, Switzer stated, and his statement was endorsed by Lindley in 1831, that the Autumn Bergamot was introduced into England in the days of Julius Caesar, that it was possibly the Assyrian Pear of Virgil, and was in that case to have been found in the "once celebrated and famous gardens of Alcinous." This is a doubtful conjecture, though without doubt the variety is of very ancient origin. Fruit small, globular-obtuse, yellowish-green, dull brown where exposed to the sun and profusely speckled with gray russet; flesh greenish-white, tender, melting, somewhat gritty at the core, juicy, and of a rich flavor; a dessert pear of first quality; Oct. Tree vigorous, prolific, forms a handsome standard and succeeds on either quince or pear.