Belle Williams

Pear

Belle Williams

Origin / History

Of foreign origin, possibly English (Hedrick). "A foreign variety little known" (Downing, 1900). Hedrick cites the American Pomological Society Report of 1862 and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 669 (1869).

Tree

Tree a very erect, vigorous grower; hardy (Hedrick). Young wood olive, slightly yellow, glossy.

Fruit

Size: Medium to large; Thomas gives large.

Form: Oblong pyriform, with a groove or sunken line from stem to calyx.

Stem: Long, curved.

Cavity: A slight depression, with a lip at the stem.

Calyx: Partially closed.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Yellowish, greenish yellow in Thomas, with traces, nettings, and tracings of russet; marblings of russet in Hedrick. Thomas notes that it has cracked badly at some places.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Whitish, not juicy or rich (Downing). Thomas: buttery, melting; "very good."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December to March. Thomas gives winter.

Uses

Good for cooking.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901

View original book sources (3)

Belle Williams.

A foreign variety little known. Tree a very erect, vigorous grower. Young wood olive, slightly yellow, glossy.

Fruit medium to large, oblong pyriform, with a groove or sunken line from stem to calyx, yellowish, with traces and nettings of russet. Stalk long, curved, set in a slight depression by a lip. Calyx partially closed. Flesh whitish, not juicy or rich. Good for cooking. December to March.

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

Belle Williams. Large, pyriform, greenish-yellow; buttery, melting; very good—has cracked badly at some places. Winter.

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

Belle Williams.

Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. no. 1862.

Downing Fr. Trees Am. 669. 1869.

Of foreign origin, possibly English. Tree vigorous, very erect, hardy; young wood olive, slightly yellow, glossy. Fruit medium to large, oblong-pyriform, with a groove or sunken line from stem to calyx, yellowish, with marblings and tracings of russet; stem long, curved, set in a slight depression by a lip; calyx partially closed; flesh whitish, not juicy or rich; good for cooking; Dec. to Mar.

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