Baronne de Mello
Pear
Baronne de Mello
Origin/History
A Belgian pear said to have been raised by Van Mons about 1830, first described by Bivort in the Album Pomologique. Also cited in Mas, Le Verger 3: Pt. 2, 137, fig. 165 (1866–73) and Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:180, fig. (1867).
Tree
Hardy, vigorous grower, productive (Downing). Thomas describes it as vigorous and a great bearer. Young wood is light olive brown with many specks (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Downing and Thomas describe the fruit as medium; Hedrick describes it as rather large.
Form: Variable. Downing describes the form as irregular, varying from curved pyriform to long acute pyriform, occasionally roundish acute pyriform. Thomas similarly notes it as conic-pyriform, often Tyson-shaped, sometimes obovate or turbinate, and variable. Hedrick describes a different aspect: globular-turbinate, tapering on one side with a dipping curve toward the stalk, the surface sometimes bossed but generally even.
Stem: Long, curved, and inclined, fleshy at the base, and often with a lip (Downing). Thomas confirms the stalk is fleshy at insertion.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Partially closed; segments short and erect (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish, nearly covered with brown russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots (Downing). Hedrick describes the color as yellow-green, dotted with gray and mottled with russet. Thomas characterizes the skin as rough and much russeted.
Flesh and Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as whitish, a little coarse, juicy, melting, and vinous subacid, rating it "very good." Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish-white or greenish, semi-fine, semi-melting, and gritty at the center, with juice very abundant, sugary, rich, vinous, and delicately acid, rating it first quality. Thomas describes the flesh as rather coarse, very juicy and melting, vinous or sub-acid, and of moderate quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (all three sources).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Downing lists the following associated names appearing in the sources alongside this variety: Adele de St. Denis, St. Cerran, Adele de St. Cerras, Beurre Van Mono.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Baronne de Mello.
Adele de St. Denis. St. Cerran. Adele de St. Cerras. Beurre Van Mono.
A Belgian Pear, first described by Bivort, in Album Pomology. Tree hardy, vigorous grower, and productive. Young wood light olive brown with many specks.
Fruit medium, irregular in form, varying from curved pyriform to long acute pyriform, occasionally roundish acute pyriform. Skin yellowish, nearly covered with brown russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk long, curved, inclined, fleshy at base, and often with a lip. Calyx partially closed. Segments short, erect. Flesh whitish, a little coarse, juicy, melting, vinous subacid. Very good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Baronne de Mello.
- Mas Le Verger 3:Pt. 2, 137, fig. 165. 1866-73. Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:180, fig. 1867.
A variety said to have been raised by Van Mons about 1830. Fruit rather large, globular-turbinate, tapering on one side with a dipping curve toward the stalk, sometimes the surface is bossed but generally even; color yellow-green, dotted with gray and mottled with russet; flesh yellowish-white or greenish, semi-fine, semi-melting, gritty at the center; juice very abundant, sugary, rich, vinous, delicately acid; first; Oct.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Baronne de Mello. (Adele de St. Denis.) Medium, conic-pyriform (often Tyson-shaped,) sometimes obovate or turbinate, variable; skin rough, much russeted; stalk fleshy at insertion; flesh rather coarse, very juicy and melting, vinous or sub-acid, of moderate quality. October. Tree vigorous, a great bearer.