Bartlett, Or Williams' Bon Chretien Pear
Pear
Bartlett, Or Williams' Bon Chretien Pear
Origin / History
Bartlett, Or Williams' Bon Chretien Pear was first described, in the Transactions of the London Horticultural Society (vol. ii, pl. xvi), under the name Williams' Bon Chretien, "its proper and legitimate title, and one which it ought to retain." The name Bartlett has become so generally diffused in this country that it has supplanted the former, and the variety "must henceforth be generally known, — at least in this country, — as the Bartlett." In some French collections it is called William. It originated in Berkshire, England, about sixty years before 1852; grafts were subsequently obtained by Mr. Williams, a nurseryman near London, who first introduced it to notice. It was brought to this country in 1799, when Mr. James Carter, of Boston, purchased a few trees in London for Mr. Thomas Brewer, of Roxbury, Mass. The estate subsequently passed into the possession of E. Bartlett, Esq., after whom the variety was named.
Now universally known as the Bartlett in American collections, it is one of the most popular, admired, and generally cultivated varieties, possessing in an eminent degree a combination of excellences scarcely found in any other pear: among the largest in size, among the most beautiful in appearance, and among the best of its season in quality. With a free-growing, vigorous tree of upright and handsome habit, an early and abundant bearer, fair and perfect fruit in all seasons and all soils, ripening freely when gathered early and keeping well, it ranks among the very best varieties for general cultivation.
Tree
Vigorous, upright, very regular until it begins to bear, when the branches become somewhat pendulous and irregular; annual shoots strong, stout, curved inwards at the ends. Wood clear dark yellow, dotted with small, pale gray specks; old wood dull brownish yellow. Buds medium size, little pointed, flattened, with prominent shoulders; flower-buds medium size, obovate, obtuse.
Leaves medium size, ovate, acuminate, smooth, thick, deep glossy green, slightly curved on the midrib, folded inwards at the edges, finely but obtusely serrated; petioles medium length, about one and a half inches long, moderately stout, holding the leaf erect. Flowers medium size; petals roundish, cupped.
Early and abundant bearer; young trees in the nursery rows frequently bear the second year. The tree grows freely upon the quince and produces great crops, but it is so early and abundant a bearer upon the pear stock that there is but little necessity for growing it upon the quince. Fair and perfect fruit in all seasons and all soils.
Fruit
Size: Large, about four inches long and three inches in diameter.
Form: Obtuse pyramidal, largest near the middle, rounding off to the crown and narrowing to the base, which is obtuse; surface uneven and somewhat knobby or irregular.
Stem: Short, about half an inch long, stout, thick, little swollen at the base, inserted in a small uneven cavity.
Cavity: Small, uneven.
Calyx: Eye medium size, open; segments of the calyx thick, short, projecting.
Basin: Rather small, furrowed, little sunk.
Skin: Fair, smooth, clear lemon yellow when mature, lightly tinged with blush on the sunny side, sometimes russeted around the stem.
Dots: Thickly covered with minute russet specks.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish white, fine, melting, buttery, and juicy. Flavor sugary and rich, with a high musky aroma. In quality among the best of its season.
Core and seeds: Core medium size. Seeds medium size, broad, light brown.
Season
Ripe the middle of September; keeps two or three weeks. Ripens freely when gathered early.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)BARTLETT, OR WILLIAMS' BON CHRETIEN PEAR.
Williams' Bon Chretien. Trans. Lon. Hort. Soc., vol. ii. pl. xvi. Bartlett, of all American Collections. William, of some French Collections.
This large and superb pear, now universally known under the name of Bartlett, in all American collections, is one of the most popular, admired and generally cultivated varieties, possessing, in an eminent degree, a combination of excellences which can scarcely be found in any other pear. In size it is among the largest, in appearance among the most beautiful, and in quality among the best of its season; and, when to merits such as these are added a free growing and vigorous tree, an upright and handsome habit, an early and abundant bearer; in all seasons and all soils a fair and perfect fruit, ripening freely when gathered early, and keeping well, it must be admitted that it ranks among the very best varieties for general cultivation.
The Bartlett was first described, as above quoted, under the name of Williams' Bon Chretien, its proper and legitimate title, and one which it ought to retain. But the name of Bartlett has become so generally diffused, that it has supplanted the former, and it must henceforth be generally known, — at least in this country, — as the Bartlett. It originated in Berkshire, England, about sixty years ago; but grafts of it were subsequently obtained by Mr. Williams, a nurseryman near London, who first introduced it to notice. It was first introduced to this country in the year 1799, when Mr. James Carter, of Boston, purchased a few trees in London, for Mr. Thomas Brewer, of Roxbury, Mass. The estate subsequently passed into the possession of E. Bartlett, Esq., after whom it was named.
The tree grows freely upon the quince, and produces great crops; it is, however, so early and abundant a bearer upon the pear stock, that there is but little necessity for growing it upon the quince. Young trees in the nursery rows frequently bear the second year.
Tree. — Vigorous, upright, very regular until it begins to bear, when the branches become somewhat pendulous and irregular; annual shoots, strong, stout, curved inwards at the ends.
Wood. — Clear dark yellow, dotted with small, pale gray specks; old wood, dull brownish yellow; buds, medium size, little pointed, flattened, with prominent shoulders: Flower-buds, medium size, obovate, obtuse.
Leaves. — Medium size, ovate, acuminate, smooth, thick, deep glossy green, slightly curved on the midrib, folded inwards at the edges, and finely but obtusely serrated; petioles, medium length, about one and a half inches long, moderately stout, holding the leaf erect.
Flowers. — Medium size; petals, roundish, cupped.
Fruit. — Large, about four inches long and three inches in diameter: Form, obtuse pyramidal, largest near the middle, rounding off to the crown, and narrowing to the base, which is obtuse, with an uneven and somewhat knobby or irregular surface: Skin, fair, smooth, clear lemon yellow when mature, lightly tinged with blush on the sunny side, sometimes russeted around the stem, and thickly covered with minute russet specks: Stem, short, about half an inch long, stout, thick, little swollen at the base, and inserted in a small uneven cavity: Eye, medium size, open, and little sunk in a rather small furrowed basin; segments of the calyx thick, short, projecting: Flesh, yellowish white, fine, melting, buttery and juicy: Flavor, sugary and rich, with a high musky aroma: Core, medium size: Seeds, medium size, broad, light brown.
Ripe the middle of September and keeps two or three weeks.