1. WILLIAMS' BON CHRÉTIEN. [Syn.: Wheeler's; Bartlett; De Lavault; Williams'.]

"In Amitermis vale, the Sabine boors Added Bon-cretiens to their former stores." (Rapin, "The Orchard," translated by Gardener.)

This highly esteemed Pear was raised a short time previous to 1770, by a person of the name of Wheeler, a schoolmaster at Aldermaston, in Berkshire; from him it was obtained by Mr. Williams, the nurseryman at Turnham Green, Middlesex, and being by him first distributed, it received the name it now bears. In 1799 it was introduced to America by Mr. Enoch Bartlett, of Dorchester, near Boston, through whom it became generally distributed, and has ever since been known there by the name of the Bartlett Pear. It attains the highest perfection in America, and is esteemed as the finest and best keeping Pear of its season, it has even been brought back to England with its new name.

Description.—Fruit, large, obtuse-pyriform, irregular, and bossed in its outline. Skin, smooth, at first pale green, changing as it ripens to clear yellow, and tinged with streaks of red next the sun. Eye, open, set in a very shallow depression, but more generally even with the surface. Stalk, an inch long, stout, and fleshy, and inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh, white, fine-grained, tender, buttery, and melting, with a rich, sweet, and delicious flavour, and powerful musky aroma.

An excellent Autumn Dessert Pear; in season in August and September. The tree is healthy and vigorous, but not a regular and abundant bearer. It succeeds best as a pyramid or standard on the pear, or quince stock, when the fruit is much better flavoured, though not so large as when grown on a wall. The fruit should be gathered before it is ripe, at intervals of a few days, that they may not all ripen together—for when ripe, it soon becomes mealy and decays. Its cultivation by the London market gardeners has become more limited than it was, in consequence of its fickleness in bearing.

An excellent coloured representation is given of this pear in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society (London,) Vol. II., p. 250, where, and in Vol. III., p. 357, its history and description are given.

— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)

Bartlett, or Williams' Bonchretien.

Bartlett, of all American Gardens. Williams' Bonchretien. Clement Doyenne. Poire Guillaume, of the French. Barnett's William. Bonchretien Barnett. Delavault.

This noble Pear is, justly, one of the most popular of all the summer varieties. Its size, beauty, and excellence entitle it to this estimation, apart from the fact that it bears very early, regularly, and abundantly. It is an English variety, originated about 1770, in Berkshire, and was afterward propagated by a London grower by the name of Williams. When first introduced to this country its name was lost, and having been cultivated and disseminated by Enoch Bartlett, Esq., of Dorchester, near Boston, it became so universally known as the Bartlett Pear, that it is impossible to dispossess it now. It suits our climate admirably, ripening better here than in England, and has the unusual property of maturing perfectly in the house, even if it is picked before it is full-grown. It has no competitor as a summer market fruit.

The tree grows upright, with thrifty, yellowish brown shoots, and narrow, folded leaves.

Fruit of large size, oblong, obtuse pyriform. Surface uneven. Skin very thin and smooth, clear yellow (with a soft blush on the sunny side in exposed specimens), rarely marked with faint russet. Stalk one to one and a half inches long, stout, inserted in a shallow cavity. Calyx open. Segments short, erect, set in a very shallow, obscurely plaited basin. Flesh white, and exceedingly fine-grained and buttery; it is full of juice, sweet, with a highly perfumed vinous flavor. (In damp or unfavorable soils it is sometimes slightly acid.) Ripens from last of August to middle and last of September.

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

BARTLETT

1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 334, fig. 134. 1845. 2. Horticulturist 2:169. 1847-48. 3. Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr. 29. 1848. 4. Hovey Fr. Am. 2:11, Pl. 1851. 5. Horticulturist N. S. 3:350, Pl. 1853. 6. Field Pear Cult. 190, 276, fig. 66. 1858. 7. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 666, fig. 1869. 8. Ont. Dept. Agr. Fr. Ont. 148, fig. 1914.

Williams' Bon Chrétien. 9. Lindley Guide Orch. Gard. 350. 1831. 10. Prince Pom. Man. 2:137. 1831. 11. Hogg Fruit Man. 664. 1884.

Williams' Apothekerbirne. 12. Dochnahl Führ. Obstkunde 2:181. 1856.

Bon Chrétien Williams'. 13. Pom. France 1: No. 16, Pl. 16. 1863. 14. Mas Le Verger 2:23, fig. 10. 1866-73.

Williams. 15. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:758, fig. 1869.

Williams Christbirne. 16. Lauche Deut. Pom. II: No. 18, Pl. 18. 1882. 17. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 298. 1889.

Bartlett leads all other pears in number of trees in New York, and vies with Kieffer for the greatest number in America. Its fruits are more common and more popular in American markets than those of any other pear. When the characters of the variety are passed in review, although several poor ones of fruit and tree appear, the popularity of Bartlett with growers and sellers, if not with consumers, seems justified. As with the leading variety of any fruit, the preeminently meritorious character of this one is its great adaptability to different climates, soils, and situations. Thus, Bartlett is grown with profit in every pear-growing region in America and in all is grown in greater quantities than any other sort excepting, perhaps, the notorious Kieffer. Another character which commends this variety to pear-growers is fruitfulness — barring frosts or freezes, the trees bear full crops year after year. Moreover, the trees are very vigorous, attain large size, bear young, live long, are easily managed in the orchard, and thrive on both standard and quince stocks. The pears are large, handsome, of good but not of the best quality, and keep and ship remarkably well.

Bartlett is not without serious faults, however. The trees blight badly, and are not much above the average in resistance to blight, the black plague of the pear. Neither are they as hardy to cold or to heat as those of some other varieties. They are scarcely hardier to cold than those of the peach, and cannot withstand the summer heat of the southern, or of the Mississippi Valley states. Another serious defect of the trees is that, more than those of any other standard variety, their blossoms require cross-fertilization. The fruits are satisfactory in all characters excepting quality. There are many better-flavored pears. The fruits lack the rich, perfumed flavor of Seckel on one hand, and the piquant, vinous taste of Winter Nelis on the other. But the pears are much above the average in quality, and since no other variety is so easily grown, nor so reliable in the markets, Bartlett promises long to continue its supremacy for home and commercial plantations. After Kieffer, it is the most desired of all pears by the canning trade. Bartlett is the parent of several other well-known varieties, and of many sorts of small importance.

This pear was found as a wilding by a Mr. Stair, a schoolmaster at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England. From him it was acquired by a Mr. Williams, a nurseryman at Turnham Green, Middlesex, and as it was propagated and distributed by him it became known by his name, although it is still known as Stair's pear at Aldermaston. It was brought to this country in 1797 or 1799 by James Carter of Boston for Thomas Brewer who planted the variety in his grounds at Roxbury, Massachusetts, under the name of Williams' Bon Chrétien, by which name it was then and still is known both in England and France. In 1817 Enoch Bartlett, Dorchester, Massachusetts, became possessed of the Brewer estate, and not knowing its true name allowed the pear to go out under his own. Henceforth it was known in America as Bartlett. The American Pomological Society added this variety to its catalog-list of fruits in 1848.

Tree medium in size, tall, pyriform, upright, hardy, very productive; branches stocky, smooth, reddish-brown overlaid with ash-gray scarf-skin, with few lenticels; branchlets short, with short internodes, reddish-brown, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with conspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds short, obtuse, pointed, mostly free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 2½ in. long, 1½ in. wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin tipped with small dark red glands, finely serrate; petiole 1½ in. long. Flower-buds large, conical, pointed, free; flowers showy, 1⅛ in. across, in dense clusters averaging 7 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1⅛ in. long, slender, slightly pubescent.

Fruit matures in September; large, 3½ in. long, 2½ in. wide, oblong-obtuse-pyriform, tapering toward the apex, symmetrical, uniform; stem 1½ in. long, often curved, thick; cavity small, usually lipped, with thin, overspreading streaks of light russet, acute, shallow; calyx partly open; lobes separated at the base, narrow, acute; basin very shallow, narrow, obtuse, furrowed and wrinkled; skin thin, tender, smooth, often dull, the surface somewhat uneven; color clear yellow, with a faint blush on the exposed cheek, more or less dotted with russet and often thinly russeted around the basin; dots many, small, conspicuous, greenish-russet; flesh fine-grained although slightly granular at the center, melting, buttery, very juicy, vinous, aromatic; quality very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube long, wide, funnel-shaped; seeds wide, plump, acute.

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

Bartlett.

William's Bon Chretien, | Poire Guillaume, William's, | Delavoult de Clement.

An English variety, originated about 1770. Now extensively grown, and too well known to really need description. The trees are vigorous, and early productive of fair, handsome fruit, either on Pear or Quince root.

Fruit, large, ovate, obtuse pyriform, surface somewhat uneven; color, clear light yellow, tinged with blush in sun when ripe, russet around the stem, and minute russet dots over whole; stem, short, thick; calyx, medium, partly open; basin, shallow, furrowed; core, medium; seeds, broad ovate; flesh, yellowish white, melting, juicy, vinous Middle August to middle September.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Bartlett.* (Williams' Bonchretien.) Quite large, obtuse-pyriform, somewhat pyramidal; surface wavy, clear yellow, sometimes a faint blush; stalk an inch and a fourth long, stout, slightly sunk; basin little or none; apex slightly plaited, sometimes smooth; flesh nearly white, fine-grained, exceedingly tender and buttery, with a nearly sweet, sometimes faintly sub-acid, fine, moderately rich flavor. Ripens end of summer and beginning of autumn, and far North, is strictly an autumn pear. The fruit, when not fully grown, ripens and becomes of good quality if kept in the house a week or two. Growth erect, vigorous, leaves folded, slightly recurved, shoots yellowish. Tree very productive, and bears very young. Although not of the first class as to flavor, the many fine qualities of this pear render it a general favorite. Fig. 645. England.

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

Bartlett. — Large, oblong, obtuse pyriform; color clear yellow with blush usually on sunny side; surface of skin usually uneven; stalk one to one and one-half inches long, inserted in shallow cavity. Flesh white, fine-grained, buttery, juicy, sweet, with rich perfumed flavor, very good. Popular in nearly every fruit district of the Union. England.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

WILLIAMS BON CHRETIEN. Her. Pom., I., 9. G. Williams Christbirn. (Bartlett.) Dessert, September, fairly large, 3½ by 4½, oval pyriform, uneven. Skin, nearly smooth. Colour, golden yellow with russet dots and marbling and faint red stripes. Flesh, white, transparent, very juicy and sweet, with a strong musky flavour. Eye, open, in shallow irregular basin. Stem, short, rather stout, generally at an angle. Growth, moderate ; fertility good. Leaf, medium, round, finely and regularly serrate, hangs late, turns rich crimson red. Origin, raised by a schoolmaster named Stair, of Aldermaston, about 1770. In that county it is still called "Stair's Pear." It took its name "Williams" from its distributor, a nurseryman of Turnham Green ; on its introduction to America it was again named after its importer, Mr. Bartlett. This is quite the best of early Pears, and should be gathered when still green and ripened in the fruit-room. The musky flavour is less pronounced when grown on a North wall. It makes a good standard.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

BARTLETT. Fig. 70. Williams' Bon Chretien. Williams. Bartlett leads all other pears in number of trees in America. Its fruits are more common and more popular than those of any other pear. The preeminently meritorious character of Bartlett is its great adaptability to different climates, soils and situations. Thus, it is grown with profit in every pear-growing region in America and in all in greater quantities than any other sort. Another character which commends this variety is fruitfulness—barring frosts or freezes the trees bear full crops year after year. The trees are vigorous, attain large size, bear young, live long, and are easily managed in the orchard. The pears are large, handsome, of good but not of the best quality, and keep and ship remarkably well. Bartlett is not without serious faults, however: the trees are not above the average in resistance to blight; they are not as hardy as those of some other varieties; and more than those of any other standard variety the blossoms require cross-fertilization. The fruits are satisfactory in all characters excepting quality. They lack the rich, perfumed flavor of Seckel on one hand, or the piquant, vinous taste of Winter Nelis on the other. But they are above the average in quality, and since no other variety is so easily grown, nor so reliable in the markets, Bartlett promises long to hold its supremacy for home and commercial plantations. It is the most desired of all pears by the canning trade.

This pear was found as a wilding by a Mr. Stair, a schoolmaster at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England. It was first introduced to this country in 1797 or 1799 under the name of Williams' Bon Chretien, by which name it is known both in England and France. In 1817 Enoch Bartlett, Dorchester, Massachusetts, allowed the pear to go out under his own name. Henceforth it became known in America exclusively as Bartlett.

Tree medium in size, with age becoming tall and pyriform, upright; branches stocky, smooth, reddish-brown with few lenticels. Leaves 2¾ inches long, 1¾ inches wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin tipped with small dark red glands, finely serrate; petiole 1½ inches long. Flowers showy, 1½ inches across, in dense clusters averaging 7 buds in a cluster.

Fruit matures in September; large, 3½ inches long, 2¾ inches wide, oblong-obtuse-pyriform, tapering slightly toward the apex, symmetrical, uniform; stem 1¼ inches long, often curved, thick; cavity small, usually lipped, with thin, light russet overspreading streaks of russet, acute, shallow; calyx partly open; lobes separated at the base, narrow, acute; basin very shallow, narrow, obtuse, furrowed and wrinkled; skin thin, tender, smooth, often dull, the surface somewhat uneven; color clear yellow when fully mature, with a faint blush on the exposed cheek, more or less dotted with russet and often thinly russeted around the basin; dots many, small, conspicuous, greenish-russet; flesh fine-grained, although slightly granular at the center, melting, buttery, very juicy, vinous, aromatic; quality very good; core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube long, wide, funnel-shaped; seeds medium in size and length, wide, plump, acute.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)