Belle Williams

Pear

Belle Williams

Origin/History

Of foreign origin, possibly English. Listed in the American Pomological Society Report by 1862. Cited by Downing in 1869. Little known in American cultivation.

Tree

Vigorous, very erect, hardy. Young wood olive, slightly yellow, glossy.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium to large (Downing; Hedrick), or large (Thomas), oblong-pyriform (Downing; Hedrick), or pyriform (Thomas), with a groove or sunken line running from stem to calyx.

Stem: Long, curved, set in a slight depression by a lip.

Cavity: Slight depression at stem end.

Calyx: Partially closed.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Yellowish (Downing), or greenish-yellow (Thomas), with marblings and tracings of russet (Hedrick; Downing describes "traces and nettings of russet").

Flesh/Flavor: Sources conflict. Downing and Hedrick describe the flesh as whitish, not juicy or rich, and suitable chiefly for cooking. Thomas describes it as buttery, melting, and very good. Thomas also notes it has cracked badly in some locations.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December to March (winter).

Uses

Good for cooking (Downing; Hedrick). Thomas rates it very good, implying dessert or dual use, though he does not specify.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Thomas notes the variety has cracked badly in some locations — a significant cultural observation for identification and siting purposes.

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.

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)

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)